World T.11 1,500m record holder Samuel Mushai (3.58.37) leads the Kenyan team to the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships set for London between July 14 and 23.
Over 40 athletes (27 men and 17 women) beat the qualifying mark during the two-day show. Mushai together with Wilson Bii and Erick Sang, all of who represented the country at the 2016 Rio Paralympics, will once again line up against the world’s best in the 1,500m and 5,000m for the London showpiece next month. Sang and Mushai posted identical time as they both crossed the tape in 15.58.1, while Bii finished in 15.58.5. Bii intimated that he returns back to his Kericho training base, where he will endeavour to slash some seconds from his qualifying time.
“Mushai, Sang and Santos Odiar have always been my biggest competitors and I have to work harder to beat them. I will start my training immediately, I am determined to post better winning time,” said Bii. Kenya will field Benard Kosgei and Henry Kirwa in T.12 5,000m; Alex Komen in T.20 5,000m, and Daniel Kiprop in T.13 5,000m. Kiprop also compete in the T.13 1,500m, T.13 800m and T.13 400m. Henry Nzungi qualified in T.12 200m, T.12 400m and T.12 800m; John Njoroge in T.11 400m; Aaron Lagat T.11 400m, while Gilbert Lagat made the cut in T.12 400m.
Others who qualified for the World Championships are Vincent Mutai in the T.46 200m and 400m and
Derick Aseto T.47 200m and T.47 100m. Sprinter Vitalis Kibiwott ruled the T.13 400m and T.13 100m races. Barrack Ochieng and James Magerere qualified in shot put and javelin respectively.
Prisca Chepkemei, Nancy Chalagat, Nelly Nasimiyu, Viola Jebitok, Abigael Arube, Irene Cherono, Mary Waithera, Joyline Chemutai, Heklah Mosop are some of the women who qualified.
Kenya National Paralympics Committee president, Agnes Oluoch congratulated the athletes and immediately implored the government to fund the team to the worlds next month. “Our wish is to send all of them to London. Last year, many athletes who had qualified for the Rio Paralympics were locked out and have come out, done their best and qualified again,” said Oluoch.