African silver medallist in the 800m Alex Ng’eno is determined to secure a spot on Team Kenya for his Olympic Games debut in Paris.
The Kenyan trials are set for June 14 and 15 with Athletics Kenya (AK) yet to announce the venue after the closure of the only two World Athletics-certified stadiums —Moi Stadium Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.
Ng’eno’s time of 1:44.07 set at the African Games trials in March, has already surpassed the Olympic qualification mark of 1:44.70.
Ng’eno hopes to make the team for Paris which will also be his maiden appearance at the Olympics.
“My main objective is to make Team Kenya for the Olympics. You know everyone’s dream is to participate in the Olympics,” he noted.
He, however, faces a stiff battle from world silver medallist, Emmanuel Wanyonyi who clocked 1:42.80 during last weekend’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
Two-time Commonwealth champion Wyclife Kinyamal is also in the fold having set a time of 1:43.22 during the Herculis Meeting International in Monaco on July 21.
African champion Aaron Cheminingwa will be the other athlete to watch having set a time of 1:43.55 during the Grifone meeting in Italy last week.
Others who have met the times include Kelvin Kimtai who ran 1:44.07 on July 5 in Barcelona, Spain, and 2019 African silver medallist Cornelius Tuwei who has a time of 1:44.70 set on July 22 in the Madrid meeting.
Last week, Ng’eno defended his national 800m title at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, securing a spot for the African Senior Championships from June 21-26 in Douala, Cameroon.
Ng’eno clocked 1:45.01 with Nicholas Kebenei ( 1:45.46 ) and Timothy Cheruiyot ( 1:45.65 ) sealing the podium. Ng’eno said he will also use the African Championships to sharpen his skills if he makes the cut for Paris.
“I am glad I was able to retain my national title as well as make the team for Cameroon. The African championships will be crucial to sharpen my skills ahead of the Paris Olympics,” Ng’eno noted.
He said a podium finish would be an added advantage in his preparation for the Olympics.
The 23-year-old credits his success to a strategic racing style that requires him to sit at the back and make his move in the final lap.
“I am not a front-runner. I sit back and wait till the final lap to make my move and this has worked out well for me,” he noted.
Ng’eno’s track record includes a silver medal at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, in March, where he clocked 1:45.73 behind winner Cheminingwa (1:45.72).
Ngeno is also the 2019 Africa U20 champion (1:45.25)in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, as well as the 2018 World U-20 silver medallist (1:46.45) in Tampere, Finland.
He finished fourth in the Wanda Diamond League in Xiamen, China, last month clocking 1:44.76.
Marco Arop of Canada clinched the title clocking 1:43.61 to set the world lead time. Kinyamal (1:43.66) and Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela (1:43.88) completed the podium.
