Africa Senior Athletics Championships: It’s do-or-die as Kenyans target big medal harvest

Kenyan bronze medalists Eunice Kadogo (L), Fresha Mwangi (2ndL), Joan Cherono (R) celebrate after competing in the women's 4x100m relay during the 21st African Senior Athletics Championships at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State in midwestern Nigeria on August 3, 2018. The five-day biennial African Senior Athletics Championship has got underway at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State in Midwestern Nigerian. / AFP PHOTO

Although it’s unpredictable race, women’s 3,000m steeplechase line up can deliver medals for Kenya on the final day of Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria, today.

Beatrice Chepkoech, the new world 3,000m steeplechase record holder, anchors the strong team that features two-time world under-20 champion Celliphine Chespol and Fancy Cherono, a member of the Commonwealth Games squad to Gold Coast, Australia, last April.

Chepkoech, 27, told the Standard Sports: “I know attention will be on me. I am prepared for a good race. I am under no pressure at all. I hope to make the team to Inter-continental Championships.”  

Chespol, two-time Under 20 World Champion, would be out to replay her impressive shows she exhibited in IAAF World Under-20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, last month.

“I feel comfortable and I know we can do this and emerge victorious” said Chespol.  

Grace Wanjru leads 20km walk Emily Ngii this morning. The 39-year-old veteran walker who made her international debut winning bronze medal in the even in 2002 eyes her seventh Africa title in Nigeria. Samuel Gathimba, the Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, seeks to defend his 20km walk title and will join forces with Simon Wachira, who placed fifth in Durban, South Africa in 2016.

Olympic javelin silver medalist Julius Yego guns for African title alongside team mate Alex Kiprotich. “I have been training in Europe and I feel confident as I head to the final. This is my third appearance in Africa Championships and I am aiming for podium finish,” said Yego.   

World 1500m champion Elijah Manangoi and silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot line up 1500m alongside Charles Simotwo.  

The first two from each event will qualify to present the continent at the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic, on September 8

Edward Zakayo, who stunned Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega Tampere’s World U-20 Championships to win gold in men’s 5000m, will team up with 2014 Commonwealth Games Steeplechase Champion Jonathan Ndiku and Cyrus Ruto in men’s 5000m finals. The trio will once again battle rivals Ethiopia and Uganda while Kenya will enter men’s 4x400m relays.