AFTER posting mixed results in the two opening IAAF Diamond League meetings, Kenyan athletes now turn to Athletics Kenya (AK) track and field weekend meeting starting tomorrow at the refurbished Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.
Double world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop will lead a star-studded field against a group of untested runners during the meet. Current world 800m champion Eunice Sum and her mentor over the distance, Janeth Jepkosgei are also expected to honour the event. Sum continued her dominance over the women’s tw0-lap race after winning at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting last the weekend as Jepkosgei secured a bronze medal in the same event.
Asbel, who failed to impress at the Diamond League opener in Doha, said he will be competing in the 1,500m during the Eldoret show.
“I ran in Doha but things didn’t not go as expected. I am back on the drawing board and I hope to test myself again in Eldoret this weekend,” Asbel said.
He confirmed that he has already kicked off his preparations for World athletic Championships set for Beijing in China in August and Eldoret is part of his build-up.
“The local meets are very important in terms of fine-tuning and setting better times. I also want to urge upcoming athletes to honour them and showcase their talent,” he said. The Eldoret meet will be the most competitive in the circuit, owing to the hundreds of athletes living in the area hence fireworks are expected as the established and new talents clash.
Also expected is Abednego Chesebe, who anchored team Kenya to silver medal in medley relay recent IAAF World Relays in Bahamas.
Upcoming Cosmas Maloba and Jude Kiprop took the top two positions during the Police Service regional championships in Nakuru over the weekend, will also be running in the 800m joined alongside Isaac Kiberenge and Tim Limo.
“This will mark the peak of all the AK track and field circuit as this is the ‘Home of Champions’. We expect a very exciting and a successful event. Perhaps something close to the Kenyan trials,” he noted.
