World record holder and Rio Paralympics double gold medalist Samuel Mushai clocked 4:22.00 minutes in the 1,500m to qualify for the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships slated for London between July 14 and 23.
Mushai, 28, has promised to break his own world record of 3:58.37 when he returns to London, where he set it. He was joined in the London-bound team by four other athletes who finished under the qualifying time of 4:32.00 in the T.11 classification. Rio Paralympics 1,500m bronze medalist Wilson Bii (4:22.5), Erick Sang (4.24.1) and Brian Esogon (4:30.10 followed in that order. John Njoroge completed the top five places within the qualifying mark of 4:31.9. All the five athletes shift focus to the 5,000m race today. “The race was good, competition was moderate,” said Mushai.
In a women’s race that had three entries, Mary Waithera ruled for the better part of the T.11 1,500m race before Rio Paralympics T.11 1,500m silver medalist Nancy Chalagat, guided by Geoffrey Rotich, went on to win the race in 5:11.5 minutes. Waithera came home second in 5.18.8. In the 400m T.12 classification, only Henry Nzungi and Gilbert Lagat beat the qualifying time (55.00) for the worlds. Nzungi timed 51.1 seconds as Lagat finished in second in 52.4. Charles Kiplagat (57.9), John Toroitich (59.0) and Cornelius Kipruto (60.1) completed the top five places but failed to make the cut.
Vitalis Kibiwott and Daniel Kiprop clocked 55.0 and 55.9 respectively to ensure they make for the global showpiece as Jackson Galgalo (56.6) was locked out by 0.6 seconds in the 400m T.13 event. John Njoroge (55.0) and Aaron Lagat (55.9) qualified in the T.11 100m whose qualifying time was 57.00 seconds.
Prisca Chepkemei clocked 69.2 in women’s 400m T.11 to qualify for the London championships as Arube (77.5) once again stayed in the cold after exceeding the qualifying time of 1.15.00.