The 2022 African Championships 400m hurdles bronze medallist, Wiseman Were, has set his sights on improving his personal best at the Athletics Kenya National Championships/Commonwealth Games Trials this weekend at Nyayo National Stadium.
Were heads into the national showpiece as the defending champion in both the 400m hurdles and 110m hurdles.
Last year, Were stopped the clock at 14.11 to storm to victory in the 110m hurdles ahead of William Mutunga (14.78) and Godwin Odhiambo (15.50).
He then returned to dominate his preferred event, the 400m hurdles, powering home in 49.29 to leave Kipkorir Rotich (49.66) and Peter Muthoka (50.97) trailing in his wake.
For this year's championships, Were is once again entered in both hurdle disciplines, setting the stage for another demanding double.
Adding even more intrigue to the national spectacle are the coveted tickets to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, which will be up for grabs.
Were has wasted little time in laying down a marker ahead of the trials, declaring his intention to chase fast times. "I am looking forward to delivering a fast time because I believe in my training and what I have been doing," Were said. "With a positive mindset, it's going to happen."
The seasoned hurdler believes he is capable of dipping below his lifetime best of 48.27, set last year at the Tokyo World Championships. "At the moment, I know my body is moving well. I have done a personal best of 48.2," he noted.
The 29-year-old revealed that he has sharpened both his technique and speed endurance as he gears up for the weekend showdown. "I have worked on my speed and technique, so with the right frame of mind at the trials, I believe I can post a better time," he added.
Were will also be keen to secure a ticket to Glasgow as he seeks to improve on his performance from the previous edition of the Club Games.
At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England, Were clocked 50.27 to finish fourth in the men's 400m hurdles final, narrowly missing out on a podium place.
Kyron McMaster of the British Virgin Islands claimed gold in 48.93, while Jamaica's Jaheel Hyde (49.78) and Britain's Alastair Chalmers (49.97) secured silver and bronze, respectively.
Although he fell short of an individual medal in Birmingham, Were joined forces with Mike Mokamba, Boniface Mweresa and William Rayian to clinch bronze in the men's 4x400m relay in 3:02.41, behind Trinidad and Tobago (3:01.29) and Botswana (3:01.85). However, retaining his national title will be far from straightforward.
Were is expected to face a stern challenge from Kipkorir Rotich, who will be determined to close the gap on the reigning champion.
The 28-year-old is coming off an appearance at the African Senior Championships, where he finished eighth in the 400m hurdles final in 1:08.56, narrowly missing out on a place among the continental medallists.
