KENYA AIM TO END GAMES IN STYLE: Local athletes highly favoured to win in 5000m, marathon races

Kenya's Purity Cherotich Kirui (L) takes a water jump ahead of Australia's Madeline Heiner (2L) and Australia's Genevieve Lacaze (R) in the final of the women's 3000m steeplechase athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 30, 2014. AFP PHOTO / BEN STANSALL

Curtains will come down on athletics competition here today, with Kenya highly-tipped to carry the men’s 5,000m and both half-marathon gold medals.

After much anxiety, 2012 London Olympics bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa finally made it to Brazzaville, arriving on Tuesday noon. Longosiwa and Purity Cherotich were in Brussels for the final Diamond League meeting on Friday.

But their travel almost hit a hitch with their management preferring a direct trip to Brazzaville via Addis Ababa, but which could not work out because of visa issues. The Management Committee and the LOC sent letters of invitation, which eventually saw them travel through Nairobi. Cherotich ran her race, 3,000m steeplechase, and won a bronze medal only two hours after arrival.

With Longosiwa in the team, there is also Victor Kimutai and, possibly Clement Kemboi, who already won the men’s 3,000m steeplechase on Sunday.

“One of our athlete has been invited for an urgent meeting in Japan, which leaves us with little option, but use the only available resources at our disposal,” said John Mwithiga, head coach.

Japan-based duo James Rungaru and Grace Kimanzi will lead in the hunt for the half marathon title. Jane Moraa and Janet Rono are others in the women’s race, while Luka Kanda will boost Rungaru in the men’s race. Kimanzi won Kilimanjaro Half in March and Osaka last December. On her part, Rungaru won Gifu Half in July and Nice Half in May, credentials that the technical team are confident can enable the duo to add to Kenya’s medal haul.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s participation in tennis competition virtually ended on Tuesday after they were bundled out in the doubles event. Fazal Mohammed Khan and Sheil Ajay Kotecha fell to Ghana’s Wisdom Na Ajdrago and George Ato Darko 7-5, 6-2.

Judith Muraa and Caroline Oduor also lost 6-2, 6-2 to Egypt’s seed five Dona Abohabaga and Moura Ishak. Coach Roseline Owino is, however, confident the team has a bright future.

“The team has really motivated me and I can say confidently they will perform better in future events,” said Owino, an instructor at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria.

And another positive result emerged in the sprints when Boniface Meresa won silver in the 400m in 45.01 seconds behind Botswana’s Isaac Makwala (44.35). Alex Sampao was fourth in 45.59 seconds and Raymond Kibet was seventh in 45.79 seconds.

The women’s 4x100m relay saw Kenya miss the medal bracket by a whisker, finishing fourth in 44.75 seconds.  Nigeria won gold in 43.10 followed by Ghana (43.72) and Ivory Coast (43.98).

Jackson Kivuva, Job Kinyor and Timothy Kitum roared to men’s 800m final and were due to face off with Commonwealth Games champion Nigel Amos from Botswana yesterday evening. Running on lane one, Kitum finished second behind Amos (1:50.07) in the first semifinal.

Volleyball team and cyclists are expected back today at 6pm. With them are two officials, deputy chef de mission, Anthony Kariuki and deputy GTM, David Ngugi.