ATHLETICS: Otieno, Ndoro headline USN sprints

Millicent Ndoro competes in 4x400m relay women at Safaricom Stadium yesterday [PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO]

With World Relays, African Games, World Athletics Championships and the 41-leg IAAF Diamond League series making up the 2019 calendar, Kenyan sprinters will contest in a one-day sprints and hurdles event at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday.

The meet is part of the sprinters’ preparations for the upcoming Athletics Kenya relay series in which Mombasa is set to host the first meet on March 2nd.

After Mombasa, action will shift to Kisumu on March 16th while Nakuru will host the third competition on April 3rd before the national championships cum trials for World Relay Championships at Lorna Kiplagat Academy tartan track in Iten on April 16th, where they will pick a team to the IAAF World Relays in Yokahama, Japan, scheduled for May 11-12.

The event is organized by former national 200m champion Walter Moenga, sprint coaches Hillary Wesonga and Geoffrey Macharia. The showpiece is supported  by Ultimate Sports Nutrition (USN), a sports supplement company.

“Kenyan sprinters don’t have many opportunities to participate unlike middle and long distance runners who are competing in Indoors and Cross country meets at the moment," said Moenga.

“That’s why we came up with this initiative to be part of our preparation for the season and we are glad USN has come on board to support it."

Moenga said: “Almost all the sprinters have confirmed participation. We expect a competitive event and we will use electronic timers, which AK has provided. This is a chance for sprinters and hurdlers to gauge their preparedness.”

Wesonga said: “This will be a benchmark for USN to educate sprinters on the safety of their supplements since the doping scourge has affected sprinters greatly in the country”  

National champion Mark Otieno and sprinter Millicent Ndoro some of the top sprinters expected on the Saturday’s event.  

National sprint coach Stephen Mwaniki of Kenya Prisons said he will send a team to the championships. Winners will receive cash prizes and other goodies from USN.

Last month, IAAF announced the addition of two new event to the programme for the IAAF World Relays Yokohama 2019. A mixed 2x2x400m relay and mixed shuttle hurdles relay were added to the programme of events.

Joining the men's and women's 4x100m, 4x200m and 4x400m and the mixed 4x400m. It means there will now be three men's events, three women's events and three mixed events being contested.

The mixed shuttle hurdles event is a completely new addition to the World Relays.