Team Kenya had coach, Julius Kirwa, is concerned with the level of shoving and pushing in the ongoing World Athletics Championships.
Kirwa said, besides the event being competitive, athletes have had to deal with many other side-shows, and many have fallen victim to the unsporting behaviour being exhibited by their opponents.
“We have not been spared as our athletes have either been locked out or suffered bruises from the same,” he said.
First, it was Phanuel Koech, who dripped and fell in the 1500m and never survived,” he said.
Sarah Moraa was also a casualty, but we appealed and she was back in the semis,” he said.
Kirwa said the competition has proved to be lethal to athletes from across the world.
“In fact, it is hard to predict who will win what. We as coaches can only psyche the athletes and pray for them because the competition itself is beyond them.”
The tactician said the weather conditions have equally been harsh, but the good thing is that they are tough for everyone.
“Muscle pull is also very common here and may be because of the weather conditions, which have equally impacted some runners.”
So far, the coach said Kenya remains on track and they expect more medals before the championship closes.
Kenya is currently second on the log with four gold medals, one silver and two bronze. The gold medallists are -Faith Kipyegon (women’s 1500m), Beatrice Chebet (women’s 10,000m), Peris Jepchirchir (women’s marathon) and Faith Cherotich (women's 3000m steeplechase).
Dorcas Ewoi (women’s 1500m won Silver, while Edmund Serem (men’s 3000m SC) and Reynold Cheruiyot (1500m) settled for bronze.
Kirwa said the results reflect the unity they have in the team and the kind of training they have had to undertake.
“There is a lot of teamwork among team members, and this has seen us bag some medals that we never expected. Remember the encouragement Kipyegon had to give Ewoi to carry her across the line,” he said.
The coach added: “Javelin star Julius Yego has also been a motivation to the sole javelin women’s Irene Chelagat. The same has happened in the women’s 5000m and both 800m ( men and women).”
He said once the event is over, they will not sleep on their laurels, but instead they will go back home and build on what they have achieved.
Remember, countries like Uganda and Ethiopia are watching and will want to do things differently ahead of the 2027 World Championship in Beijing and the 2028 Olympic Games in Beijing.
Kirwa said what is driving Kenyans is the fighting spirit. “After the inspiration set by the gold medallists, no one wants to be left behind. Those who are yet to run want to emulate them, while those who haven’t won have exhibited the same fighting spirit and won honourably.
He said it is important to go back to the drawing board and work on the areas they have not done well.
“I have heard people talk about boychild
underperforming, but as far as I am concerned, an athlete is an athlete
irrespective of gender, and they all work for the same goal.
