Peter Kithome wants redemption at the Africa Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, on June 21-26 after missing the African Games in March in Accra, Ghana.
Kithome clocked 50.57 seconds to win the men's 400m hurdles race during the Athletics Kenya trials to the African Games on March 6 at the Nyayo Stadium.
However, he was disqualified due to lane infringement thus missing out on his first Team Kenya appearance. This affected the 21-year-old.
“I had qualified for the African Games but was, unfortunately, disqualified. It affected me mentally and my performance in subsequent races dropped,” said Kithome.
He could only watch in disbelief as his compatriots Nicholas Kessio (52.27) and Kipkorir Rotich (51.60) crashed out in the preliminary rounds as only Wiseman Were (50.10) reached the final, where he finished fourth.
Morocco’s Saad Hinti (48.82) and Botswana duo of Tisang Kemorena (50.09) and Victor Ntweng (49.38) stormed the podium.
Kithome has learnt from his mistakes and is ready for the Douala meet after closing the podium during the national championships-cum-African Championships trials at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
“I knew giving up was not a choice if I wanted to make my senior Team Kenya debut," he stated.
"I have worked on my errors from March. I hope to make the final team for Douala after my performance at the nationals."
At Ulinzi last month, Kithome finished third in 51.06 behind Edward Ngunjiri (50.89) and Rotich (50.07).
However, AK are yet to announce the final team for the African Championships as they consult the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya (ADAK).
Kithome hopes to stage a twin attack in Douala, hit the podium and lower his personal best time of 50.54 from the Kip Keino Classic of September 2021.
"A podium finish in Douala will be motivational. I want to win my first senior medal and lower my PB," he said.
Kithome is working on his hurdle clearance.
"The final hurdle is a big challenge for me. I want to ensure I get it right for a strong finish," he noted.
Kithome's accolades include a bronze medal from the 2021 World U20 Championships in the 4x400m relay where, alongside Joshua Wanyonyi, Elkanah Chemelil and Kennedy Kimeu, they clocked 3:05.94.
At the 2022 World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, he finished third in Semifinal One in 50.84, missing the final.
