Little-known Riooga a huge threat to athletics rivals

When the National Secondary School Games track and field program kicks off on Thursday at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, all eyes will be on the little-known Riooga High from Nyamira County.

Hitherto unknown, the school under the tutelage of Haron Onchong’a, dominated the Nyanza Secondary School Games track and field and they are keen to continue with their giant-killing instincts.

With the school boosting  14 athletes, mostly sprinters, Onchong’a is confident of dominating track events alongside Keberesi secondary who have 13 athletes and Kiendege (six).

The three are also youth training camps supported by the Athletics Kenya Youth and Development Committee and the Ministry of Sports through the Talanta Hela programme.

Onchong’a was previously at Mogonga PAG, where he produced among others world 800m champion Mary Moraa and he is keen to produce more world beaters.

Moraa is among three products of Onchong’a in the team that is headed for Nassau, Bahamas for World Relays on May 4 and 5. Others are Vanice Kerubo Nyagisera and Brian Tinega.

At the national schools' show, Onchong’a says he wants to have at least five of his athletes qualify for the East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association championships scheduled for Uganda in August.

“I have very good sprinters and middle-distance runners. I expect them to dominate their respective events including the 4x100m and 4x400m relays,” said a confident Onchong’a. He has roped in former athletes Thomas Osano and Declerk Omari as coaches in the camp.

Onchong’a and Osano have backed triple jumper Elias Kok to do well at the nationals. “We are not afraid of our rivals from Rift Valley. We have beaten them before and we shall beat them again,” he said, adding he is now focused on rekindling Nyamira’s athletics prowess.