Jumpers Gilbert Pkemoi and Zeddy Jesire believe the African Games is the perfect gateway to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Pkemoi will be donning the Kenyan colours for the second time after the Africa Athletics Championships in Reduit, Mauritius, where he placed seventh.
The former Keringet Mixed student in West Pokot targets Olympic qualifying standards of 17.20m in Accra.
“I missed a medal in Reduit but I want to finish on the podium since I would love to qualify for the Olympic Games,” said the 29-year-old.
He cleared 16.41m during the African Games qualifiers at the Nyayo Stadium.
“I set my personal best of 16.84m at Nyayo in 2021 and 16.41m at the trials. To make it to the Olympics, I need 17.20m,” he explained.
He will need to increase his speed and improve his landing skills.
Pkemoi is remembered for winning the 2013 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association triple jump gold medal after clearing 15.36m.
“After the gold medal, I focused on decathlon the following year and finished second at the National Secondary Schools Championships in Mombasa," he said, lamenting that he could not travel to Uganda for the Feassa games.
Jesire, who holds the national high jump record, targets 22cm in her bid to meet the Olympic Games qualifying standards.
She targets the podium on her first time African Games outing.
The Baringo-born athlete credited her good results to a recent training in Miramas, France.
“Africa Games will no doubt boost me to the next level. I can’t wait or the competition in Accra,” she added.
“If I get more training, I will soon become a world champion. I only need 22 cm to qualify for the Olympics. I need 1.97m but stand at 1.75m.”
Jesire finished 10th at the 2021 World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi.
“I was not conversant with the jumping skills then but now I know better after the Miramas training,” she said.
“I have not had a coach but Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir took me for training in Ngong and later last year, I was part of the junior athletes who trained in Miramas — where I learnt some skills.”
She has learnt a few techniques but needs more to perfect her jumps to make it to Paris.
“I have noted a huge transformation and setting the national record was not a fluke. It's hard work. If I can get more skills, I will qualify for the Olympics,” said the former Cheptonon High School student in Nandi County.
“I represented the country at the East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association for three years and won a medal each year. While in Form One, I won a bronze, followed up with a silver in Form Two and a gold in Form Three. We did not compete in 2021 due to the Coronavirus pandemic."
