Kirwa impressed by Olympics preparation

Weird News

By JOSEPH NGURE

Athletics coaches are happy with the way athletes are preparing for the London Olympics.

Led by national head coach Julius Kirwa, the tacticians commended elite runners who are competing in local track meetings organised by Athletics Kenya and sponsored by National Bank of Kenya.

“We have seen the sprinters turn up in great numbers in Bondo, Thika, Nakuru and Kitale. This is a good sign for the Olympics preparations,” said Kirwa from Athletics Kenya 5,000 and 10,000m training camp in Eldoret.

He also commended middle distance runners for also giving good account of themselves in the build up series.

“We saw Lucy Kabuu, Isaac Korir, Caroline Nyakawa and Purity Cherotich in Thika. Viola Kibiwott, Daniel Salel and Millicent Ndolo and others used Nakuru in gauging themselves. This is commendable,” said the head coach.

During Easter, the fourth weekend competitions in Kitale was a full house as majority of those training in the North Rift were present, raising the profile of championship.

Olympics champion Asbel Kiprop, Silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei, World champion Ezekiel Kemboi and former Africa 1,500m champion Aaron Keitany were among those who ran in Kitale on Friday and Saturday.

“We are encouraging other athletes to use the remaining three competitions as part of their preparations. Coaches also want to see the runners so that they can advise them after seeing them compete,” added the official who was accompanied by six other national coaches.

Senior athletes

Other senior athletes who ran in Kitale over Easter included steeplechaser Lydia Rotich who won the 5,000m, Daegu finalist Eunice Sum, former World junior 800m  champion Lydia Wafula and 5,000m new sensation Duncan Kipchirchir among others.

The seven-leg series started in Bondo on March 9 and 10  with the Nyanza North region hosting sprints, field events and medley relays up to 800m. 

Thika Municipal Stadium played host to the second stop over with participants competing in all events except  pole vault. This was on March 23 and 24, before Nakuru ended the series on March 30 and 31.

Mombasa, Mumias and Kinoru will be staging the next three legs with the Coastal region hosting sprinters, Relays and field athletes this weekend.

The climax of the athletics season will be the national trials on June 21-23 at Nyayo National Stadium where Kenya will pick teams for Africa Senior Championships and the London Olympics.

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