Kenyan middle distance runners battle for athletic supremacy

Besides Rudisha, other prominent runners from this part of the country who have ruled the world in this speciality during their hey days are former three time 800m world champion Billy Konchella in the 80s and most recently the late Patrick Konchella.

The late Konchella who died two years ago was a one time Commonwealth 800m champion with a time record of 1:42.00.

The late Konchella’s time was later improved by Rudisha (David) who is the current world champion who set a record of 1:40.91 at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Rudisha’s father Daniel Rudisha was also a force to reckon with in the relay races and particularly the 4x400m in a team that consisted Charles Asati and others.

The reigning world decathlon champion Charles Kokoyo also comes from the county.

All these talents notwithstanding, sports administrators have also looked elsewhere and are shifting their energies to football and other disciplines as other avenues of livelihood with Football Kenya Federation Narok County chairman Joseph Ole Sadera pushing for Narok Stadium to be fully renovated in the shortest time possible.

“We also have talented footballers and I appeal to the county government to have this facility completed in time besides assisting us in the training of qualified coaches and referees,” said Sadera.

The push by Sadera who is a veteran football administrator from the 90s up-to-date has forced the County Government come up with measures to revamp the facility to the required international standards in order to meet the expectations of the talented upcoming youths.

However, the stadium has no athletic track and the county government should also consider to build one at the stadium at the ongoing renovations.

Narok County Minister for Education, Youth, Children, Sports, Culture and Social Services Ezekiel Rono said they have already allocated Sh300million for the reconstruction of the facility.

“That money is enough to complete the re-construction of the stadium,” he said.

The failure to have an athletic track at the stadium may soon result in the imminent exodus of athletes to other areas in search of training facilities.

The construction of a stone fence around the stadium is almost complete would guarantee safety of the facility’s property.

Other works are scheduled to start soon, according to a contractor at the site.

The football pitch is not accurately levelled and the county government needs to purchase new goal posts to replace the existing ones that are rusty and worn out.

The stadium has no state of the art pavilion for its dignitaries and its proximity to the world famous Maasai Mara Game Reserve – a first stop shop tourist destination should also make the county government hurry up in providing one that befits that locality.

“We’ll push for all these to be completed in time before we mobilise our young players to come and train here because they are in dire need of such a facility to hone their skills,” Sadera said.

Athletics Kenya Central Rift branch treasurer Stephen Ole Marai said he is impressed with the attitude of some former and current elite runners who are determined to invest in sporting infrastructure.

He commended the 800m world champion Rudisha for purchasing an 11-acre piece of land in Transmara and is putting up a magnificent sports complex which if completed would cost him over Sh300million.

Ole Marai said the stadium would be named Rudisha-Chandaria International Stadium. Former world 800m champion and International Amateur Athletic Association (IAAF) Deputy President Englishman Sebastian Coe would preside over its official opening.

According to Ole Marai, plans are also underway to encourage their lady runners to join athletics.