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Sprinting runs in his family

My Man
 Walter Moenga, Kenyan Sprinter: Photo; Courtesy

Walter Moenga's believes he's the best sprinter Kenya will ever see, he tells us all things running, being hit on by girls on FB and how he's managed to keep his love life intact.

Who is Walter Moenga?

Walter Moenga is a 28-year old Kenyan sprinter. You can take this to the bank: I am the best sprinter in Kenya with a time of 10:29 seconds, which I did in 2014.

10:29. Is that your personal best?

That’s right.

And what’s the national record?

10:23.

Who holds that record?

(Walter hems and haws) My kid brother.

That must have been hard, big bro...

What was hard?

Swallowing humble pie the size of the Bird’s Nest Stadium, because of a difference of .06 seconds...

You got me. I give it up to my kid bro, Mike Mokamba. He was in Rio Olympics for the 200 metres, but he did not compete because of a hamstring injury. I missed Rio since I had just come of out surgery.

I got a heel injury, which was caused by training regimen of going hard and heavy. By the way, my father, Elkana Nyang’au represented Kenya in 4x100 metres race in the Seoul Olympics.

Your best moment ever on the track?

2014 World Relays in the Bahamas. Two other sprinters, Stephen Barasa and Tony Chirchir, and I went to link up with another Kenyan sprinter who lives in the USA, Calvin Kanata. We had never run with Calvin before. Before the race, the commentator stated that Kenya had made a pathetic decision to participate in the 4-by-200 meters relay.

He commented we were going to have a rough day. We came second and qualified for the next round. In the semis, he said Kenya barely managed to slip in through. We were pitted against USA, France, Britain, Japan and China.

 Once again, we came in second and qualified for the finals. We were the weakest team in the finals, besides being the only African country in the finals. We came in fourth, and beat the USA. We set the new African record of 1 minute 22:35 seconds, which still stands.

Your worst moment on the track?

The 2014 African championship, held in Marrakesh, Morocco. I was given a false start, and I was in good shape.

Who is your ideal woman?

My ideal woman is understanding, generous and knows how to cook. I love to eat. I have been married for six ... seven years, with one daughter, Kyline Kerubo, five.

You can remember your personal best and continental record down to the last split second, but you cannot remember how long you have been married? Man, you know such little slip-ups can land you in hot soup?

(Walter clears his throat.)

My wife understands me.

Are you a chick magnet?

Most definitely. Women hit at me all the time. It is something I deal with in the streets and on social media. I try not to be rude. I tell them that I am married. I give my female admirers every excuse in the book. My wife understands that attention from women comes with the territory.

Who’s your role model?

The First Lady, Margaret Kenyatta. She is not an athlete, but she is trying to do 21 kilometres, which I cannot although I am an athlete. The First Lady is getting out of her comfort zone and running marathons for a good cause.

Does Kenya have a future in sprints?

Yes. A big yes. Actually, on Sunday I am travelling to South Africa to train for six weeks. Then in January 2017, I will go to train in Europe for the whole season, which ends in September 2017. I am being sponsored by USN Kenya, which deals in ultimate sports nutrition.

My employer, Kenya Defense Forces, has released me. My training mate will be South African sprinter, Akani Simbine. He was fifth in the Olympics 100 meters final in Rio. I am also aiming for the World Championships in London next year. Watch out bro, I am coming for the national record.

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