Ochieng advises Athletics Kenya on producing more sprinters

Former international sprinter Kennedy Ochieng' (second left) pose for a picture with athletes taking part in the 43rd edition of KECOSO Athletics Championships at Kabarak University. [Courtesy]

Retired sprinter Kennedy Ochieng has advised Athletics Kenya Nyanza and Western regions' leaders to focus on how to produce more sprinters and athletes in the field events.

He said the two regions have the potential to produce athletes in the two specialties.

Ochieng' who was part of Kenya's 4x400m relay team for the 1993 World Athletics Championships in Stuttgart, Germany said the two regions are the granary of sprinters and athletes in the field events.

"The two regions have potential talents in the two specialties that has never been exploited. And therefore, it starts with good leadership before we extend to the rest," Ochieng' told Standard Sports.

He said Nyanza and Western regions should emulate what the South and North Rift regions are doing with middle and long distance athletes.

The two regions are in low altitude areas suitable for production of sprinters unlike the high altitude areas synonymous with middle and long distance running.

Ochieng' said there's need for current AK leaders to produce more of sprinters like Commonwealth 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala and Mark Otieno just like football has consistently produced more of John 'Bobby' Ogollas and JJ Masigas.

"The established camps should be well equipped with qualified instructors and trained coaches who should be tasked with scouting of talent from primary to secondary schools in the two regions," he added.

Other notable international sprinters from the two regions who have represented Kenya in the past in international assignments are Joyce Odhiambo and Alice Adala (100 and 200m, Esther Kavaya (400m) and Elizabeth Olaba (javelin and shotput).

Ochieng said Kenya needs to modernise on training of her sprinters from muscle building, starting and finishing tactics and also mental health.

He said it's all about techniques and training that improves on speed for runners to get optimal results.

"Otherwise, all this depends on leadership we put in place the work," he said.