East Africa and national competitions regulars seeking to show their power

Mean Maroon's Makari Griffins (with ball) of Lenana School is tackled by Peter Njogu Ofafa Jericho during the Nairobi region games. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] From April 25 to 29, Eldoret - the City of Champions will once again host secondary Schools' term one National Games, a five-day bonanza that is likely to be one of the thrillers this season. The town had recently hosted the Rift Valley regional secondary schools' games and the riveting action is returning to Eldoret with a number of sports giants ready to showcase exhilarating action in the race to represent Kenyan institutions at the East African competitions after the national extravaganza. From athletics to ball games, high school talents from traditional sports giants will be seeking to extend their dominance. Upcoming talent producers will also be in Eldoret to turn the tables on schools that have produced world-class sportsmen and women over the years. Schools such as Cheptonon from Nandi, Kimuron (Elgeyo Marakwet), as well as Sinonin (Baringo), have, over the years produced world-class athletes from April 24 and will be eyeing national trophies as their athletes represent Rift Valley in Eldoret. Kimuron, for instance, will be fielding an athlete who will be following in their father's footsteps, and it will be interesting to see them lay the ground for stardom. The school located near Iten, one of the world's most preferred training destinations has produced world beaters such as reigning 800m Olympic and world champion Emmanuel Korir and World record holder in the distance David Rudisha. St Anthony hockey team celebrate with the trophy after winning the National secondary school games at Nakuru High school.[Kipsang Joseph,Standard] A number of schools that lifted trophies in different disciplines and have been regulars at the nationals and East African stage are back to defend their titles in Eldoret. In the boys' handball, national champions Hospital Hill from Nairobi and runners-up Kamito from Rift Valley will be clashing in Pool A. Nyanza's Manyatta which ranked fourth on the handball table will be in Pool B and will be playing Musingu and Tsangatsini from Western and Coast respectively. The same script is repeated in the girls' handball where national champions Moi Girls Kamusinga are likely to battle again with runners-up St Joseph's Kitale. "Our main challenger after the group stages is likely to be Moi Girls (Kamusinga). We lost to them at the nationals, but we beat them at the East Africa games," St Joseph's Girls principal Rosebella Orwaru said last week. Dr Aggrey High representing the Coast region will also be defending their boys' basketball title, and are pooled with Laiser Hill from the Rift Valley, who are ranked fourth. Kaya Tiwi also from the Coast region will be fighting to retain their handball trophy. The two Coast schools will be on a mission to return the titles back to their region. Moi Girls Kamusinga celebrate their semi final win against St Joseph Karandich during East Africa Secondary Schools games. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] From the Rift Valley, St Anthony Boys Kitale are ready to prove that they are not a pushover in hockey as they aim for back-to-back wins in Eldoret. "Rift Valley is looking up to us, and we are the national defending champions. We want to defend the title, and we are cognizant of the hard work required to bring home the title. We are assuring Rift Valley that we are set," coach Kevin Lugalia said last Thursday. Kimuron's 3,000m steeplechase star Mathew Kipkosgei will be in Eldoret to send a strong warning. He is the son of former steeplechaser William Koskei, the 1988 world junior champion in the water and barrier race and he eyes history, just like his legendary father. Alongside Kipkosgei, Kimuron will have Leinas Kipkemboi and Philemon Kiprotich in the 10,000m event. "Kimuron will prepare well for the nationals. I am hopeful of a celebration as we prove that we are a powerhouse in athletics and ball games," Kimuron Secondary School Principal Boniface Kunusia says. Nairobi School's Fotana Mohamed (left) battle it out with Moses Waweru of Hospital Hill school during the Nairobi region hockey games. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] Kosirai which has produced Olympic and double steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto as well as Emmanuel Wanyonyi, the former 800m World Under-20 star will be relying on Victor Kiptum in 3,000m and Collins Kibiwott in the 1500m event in its race to shine at the national stage. After producing exhilarating performances and displaying a rare dominance at the regional stage, Sinonin from Baringo is eyeing another moment to write history in Eldoret. Its top athletes Kelvin Kiprop and Festus Kimurwa, who took the top two places in 5,000m respectively in Rift Valley are eyeing glory for their school. They will also have Kelvin Kiplagat who topped the 10,000m race in the regionals. Cheptonon of Nandi has among others race walker Margaret Gati who emerged top in the Rift Valley regionals. Rift Valley's St Patrick's Iten will be facing a bruising battle, with the likelihood of facing the likes of Mang'u High from Central, Nairobi's Ofafa Jericho and All Saints representing Eastern in the group stages of rugby 15s. St Patrick's, known for producing a big number of the country's legendary athletes had thrashed Kitale's St Anthony 10-8 in the Rift Valley finals. They will likely be facing teams such as Nairobi's Ofafa Jericho. "We are representing Rift Valley and we will be proving that the region is not coming to the nationals as the underdogs. We are cognizant of the fact that we are facing tough teams, but we used our regional final to look at the tactical areas that need improvement and we are making the necessary corrections ahead of the national competitions," St Patrick's rugby coach Bernard Indasi said. National hockey champions St Anthony Kitale (from Trans Nzoia) will be another powerhouse to watch in Eldoret. The talent producer made their intentions to defend the national hockey title clear after thrashing Kapsabet Boys 4-0 at the Rift Valley finals played at Hill School Eldoret grounds earlier in the month. St Anthony will be at the nationals with among others St Charles Lwanga High of Mombasa which dominated the Coast region's term one hockey competitions. "We will be assembling our arsenal for the nationals. We will want to prove that this was the best team for Rift Valley and we are not coming to the national games as the underdogs. We are here because we have supportive school management and we are not ready to disappoint them," John Lusaka, Rift Valley girls hockey champions - St Joseph's Kitale coach said.

East Africa and national competitions regulars seeking to show their power

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