The just concluded East Africa Under 18/20 athletics Championships are proof that Kenya will dominate the World Under 20 athletics Championships that will be staged in Lima, Peru.
Athletics Kenya Youth Development Committee chairman, Barnaba Korir tipped the Kenyans who dominated last week’s championships at the New Amani Complex in Zanzibar to dominate in Lima in August.
In Zanzibar, Samuel Toili was the star attraction after retaining the 400m Under 20 title and finished fourth in 100m.
“The performance from the just concluded event was excellent. I am very happy because this kind of programme is a reflection of what we are doing as AK and I am sure this performance by our athletes guarantees continuity,” said Korir.
Kenya managed to amass 23 medals— 12 gold, five silver and six bronze medals to top the chart in the six-nation championships. The other competitors were— Uganda, South Sudan, Djibouti, Tanzania, and Zanzibar.
“I am sure the majority of the athletes will make the team to Lima, Peru. We, therefore, have the task of ensuring they remain steadfast for the trip to Peru. It will be a big challenge because we have been dominating the region and we have to replicate the same at the global stage,” he said.
With Under-20 being the focus for Peru, Korir said they want to field every position and discipline to increase the medal prospects in the South American nation.
In Zanzibar, Kenya won the javelin title through Caroline Anyango in the Under 20 after hauling 47.12m ahead of Zanzibar’s Mwajuma Ali (32.20) and Rashima Faki (27.49m), who placed second and third respectively.
In the same category, Brian Okoth won the 100m title in 10.88 followed by Said Hamad (11.41) of Zanzibar and Faustine Joseph (11.58) of Tanzania. Toili retained his 400m title in 48.65, beating Fathi Mousa (49.91) of Djibouti and Uganda's Francis Adilu (50.03) to the podium.
James Gechuki clocked 1:52.20 to win the 800m in the U-20 followed by Uganda’s Raymond Omara (1:54.13) and Abdourazak Hassan (1:54.78) of Djibouti.
Beatrice Machoka (57.01) and Judith Jemutai won silver in 400m and 1,500m respectively. In the 400m, Machoka finished behind Ugandan Vicky Anamu (55.93) with Tereza Bernard of Tanzania third in 59.61.
Jemutai was second behind Felister Chekwenoi of Uganda and South Sudan’s Atith Thalang.
At the two-day championships, Esther Atsenga (12.84) won the 100m title in the U-18 category as well as Nancy Chepng’etich who clinched double gold in the 400m and 800m. Evans Kiprono won the boys' 400m.
Atsenga led the hosts' Lailat Vuai (13.78) and Tanzania’s Jasmin Tarik (13.39) to the podium.
Chepng’etich first won the 400m (59.99 secs) ahead of countrymate Rita Mwende(61.06) with Tanzania’s Mwajuma Musa third in 62.91.
She then won the 800m title (2:16.15), again beating Mwende (2:26.54) and Mwajuma (2:30.37) to second and third positions respectively.
