Team Kenya received training equipment worth Sh2m yesterday ahead of the 2017 International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World under-18 Championships set for July 12-16 in Nairobi.
Some of the equipment donated by the event’s Local Organizing Committee at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani included short put, hammers, discuss, javelin, hurdles and pole vault pole, crossbar, mats and pads.
The equipment will be shared among 12 camps across the country which rolled out in August 2016. The preliminary trials will be staged in April and the final one in June.
While presenting the equipment to Athletics Kenya, the LOC’s chief executive officer, Mwangi Muthee, indicated that apart from organising the teen athletics bonanza, Team Kenya is a priority for them.
“Being the hosts of the championships, we have to invest well in our team because if we don’t, we shouldn’t expect any good results. We will support the team before, during and after the championships as we look to reap the best from now until they graduate to the senior competition,” noted Muthee.
In addition to the equipment, Muthee intimated that friends of Kenya in Germany will send a German coach to bolster Team Kenya’s technical department. Specialty coaches for hammer throwing and pole vault will also join the team.
World javelin champion Julius Yego, however, noted that the equipment have been brought too late. “We may be late for the preparations of the field events because athletes need to train longer and with their coaches present always,” intimated Yego, who together with 2016 SOYA Awards personalities of the year Vivian Cheruiyot and Eliud Kipchoge will be engaged to motivate the youth athletes.
Notwithstanding, Team Kenya has been tipped to bag the top honours at the 2017 IAAF World under 18 Championships. Kenya, unlike other countries who are limited in diversity, will be fielding athletes in all the events and the LOC has come in handy to support the team by donating training equipment.
“We have been lacking in equipment and we are now glad we have them. In the past we have played second fiddle to other countries in the event but this time, we are placed at a vintage position to grab the title,” said Paul Mutui, AK’s vice president.
AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnabas Korir said Team Kenya will continue working together to ensure they field the best athletes. “Our only challenge was that we did not have training equipment,” he said.