Members of the Kenyan team to the recent World Race Walking Championships in Muscat, Oman have vowed to work together to help each other grow in their respective careers.
Africa Under-20 10,000m race walk champion Dominic Ndigiti, World under 20 10,000m race walk champion Heristone Wanyonyi and newcomer Sylvia Kemboi say their unified structure of training will enhance their chances of competing at major international competitions in addition to popularising the sport countrywide.
"If we work together, we can rectify small mistakes that we made. Finishing that race without mistakes shows that good walkers are here in Kenya and we are coming. This is our time to showcase our talent,” Ndigiti said.
Ndigiti added that the Oman outing was a learning experience out of which they have acquired valuable lessons to be applied in training.
"In Oman, what I learned was that running in the morning and evening is not good. We need to train at noon to burn our bodies. In Oman, we competed at noon, with hot sun and hot surface to adopt different climate changes," he said.
Similarly, Wanyonyi, who set a new national Under-20 record in Oman, said training on a hilly course makes all the difference at the international level.
“Setting the national record, it was unbelievable for me and as walkers, we shall continue breaking records because we have the Commonwealth Games and we shall continue improving. Every time we go out, we need to improve," Wanyonyi said.
He added: "We arrived there and found that the course was so challenging compared to Kenya, which we thought it could be the same. We found out that the course was hilly and we are used to training on a flat course at the Kasarani Stadium."
Wanyonyi, who will be defending his under 20 title in Cali, Colombia in August this year, has earmarked speed and endurance as key areas to improve on.
For upstart Kemboi, she is hopeful that Ndigiti and Wanyonyi's experience and good fortunes on the international stage will rub off on her as she eyes the international stage.
"We had never met but we used to share programmes. I started competing in 2017 but I have been missing qualifying time. However, my body is now in good form ahead of the Commonwealth Games and World championships,” Kemboi said.
She is buoyed by her victories in the women's race walking at the second and fourth legs of Athletics Kenya track and field weekend meetings in Kisumu and Mumias respectively.
Kemboi also finished second in the third leg of the series at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi.
“I have never represented the country in any event but my recent performance is a sign that I can get a chance to compete for Kenya in the other major championships," Kemboi, who trains in Kaptagat, said.
Ndigiti thanked AK for the opportunity to compete in Oman and described it as the beginning of new era for race walkers in Kenya.
"We were lucky to represent the country at the Oman. We did what we could do and it was not easy to get that chance. We thank God that each one of us completed the race," the World under 18 10,000m bronze medalist said.
