Children take part in sporting

By Jonah Onyango

Malek El Hebil, senior manager IAAF, Monaco, takes a picture with the winning team [Photo: Jonah Onyango]

Kenya is among the African English speaking countries, to benefit from the International Association of Athletics Federation’s (IAAF’s) new programme called Kids’ Athletics.

Last week, pupils from Thika Road Baptist primary school, took part in a five-day IAAF Kids’ Athletics training held at a Kasarani hotel. This saw them compete at the Kasarani Sports Centre, Nairobi.

The competition featured sprinting, hurdles, shuttle relay, racing, formula one, forward squat Jumping, ladder running, cross hoping, rope skipping, triple jumping and children Javelin throwing.

Six teams took part in the event with the first position going to the red team which had 30 points followed by Pink with 24 points and Green third with 23 points. Yellow had 21 points, Orange 18 and blue tailed with 15 points.

Bahati Egara, a participant described the event as unique and enjoyable.

Precious Wanjiku, eight said, “The cross jumping was entertaining and compelling to do.”

“The new programme was created Globally in 2006 to improve the general skills of children and keep them off things like television which make them inactive,” said Malek El Hebil, Senior Manager IAAF, Monaco.