•Kenya will seek to flip its fortunes and replicate the windfall of the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships after a disappointing performance at Oregon 22 last year.
• There was, however, a noticeable slump in the nation's curve in Oregon, where the contingent took home 10 medals, including two gold, five silvers, and three bronze.
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After heightened preparations, Kenyan athletes are looking forward to lighting up the upcoming Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships in Hungary later in the month.
The Central European nation will host the premier annual global showpiece at the brand new National Athletics Centre on the eastern bank of the Danube River on the south side of Budapest.
Kenya will seek to flip its fortunes and replicate the windfall of the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships after a disappointing performance at Oregon 22 last year.
In Doha, Kenya finished with a total of 11 medals, five gold, two silver, and four bronze.
There was, however, a noticeable slump in the nation's curve in Oregon, where the contingent took home 10 medals, including two gold, five silvers, and three bronze.
Team Kenya's declining performance in disciplines traditionally seen as theirs has caused grave concern among athletics fans. The country lost all five titles from Doha including the women's marathon, the men's and women's 3,000m steeplechase, the women's 5,000m, and the men's 1,500m.
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Long gone is the golden era when Moses Kiptanui, Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto, Richard Matelong and Conselus Kipruto dominated the 3,000m steeplechase at a whim.
For the first time in 50 years, Kenya missed out on gold in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2020 Olympics Games in Tokyo in 2021.
There is some good news though, after Athletics Kenya head coach Julius Kirwa pledged to a plethora of titles in Budapest.
Kirwa exuded confidence they will post better results than they did in Eugene last year.
“Our chances for gold medals look good. I can't say how many golds but the team is hard at work and we are relishing the challenge of competing with other nations," he added.
He e also forecast a bonanza for Kenyan sprinters in the Hungarian capital. Throughout the years, the nation has gained unmatched popularity for producing long-distance world champions.
According to recent events in Kenya, there is a good chance that Kenya may soon rank among the world's superpowers in the sprints, according to Kirwa.
The tactician lauded the outstanding performances put on display by Kenyan sprinters in recent months, noting that the number of athletes clocking sub-10 seconds appeared to be growing rapidly.
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He gave an example of Ferdinand Omanyala, saying whole generation of Kenyan sprinters has been motivated by the African 100m record holder's performance at the Commonwealth.
The seasoned coach cited the sizeable attendance in the 100m at the most recent AK meeting as prove that things are changing. Almost 200 athletes registered for the men's 100-meter race, setting a record that increased the number of heats to about 30, according to Kirwa.
"Nothing like it was experienced in the past competitions, and this attests to the significant advancements the nation has made in short races."
Kirwa claimed that a tour of the nation to find up-and-coming talent had exposed a fresh group of athletes hungry for victory in the sprints.
"All we have to do now is draw from the vast pool of potential world champions, and we will have spared ourselves the trouble of putting together a successful team in the future."
He expressed confidence that the country's 4x 400m and 4x 400m mixed relay teams would crack a top-eight finish at the World Championships.
The men’s 4x400m qualified for the Championships after the Kenya Police quartet of William Kinyamal, Kennedy Kimeu, Zablon Ekwam, and Kelvin Sawe posted 3:02.02 at the national championships in June to take Kenya to position 16 in the world.
"Our goal is to be in the final. If we do that, our ticket to Paris will be sorted. The athletes know what is at stake at the World Championships. A medal in either of the events will be a bonus."
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Kirwa said they had prepared their legs well enough to ward off intense rivalry usually posed by the traditional powerhouses, such as the United States, Jamaica, and Botswana.
"Our team bagged a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games last year and we need to build on that this year, at a bigger event. The athletes have trained hard for it,” he noted.
Kirwa will lead 57 athletes (32 men and 25 women) who will hold forte for the country in the Hungarian capital. Some of his charges have already fired a warning shot to their opponents ahead of Budapest 2023.
Those who punched tickets to the premier event vowed to storm the podium. They include Omanyala, who has told his rivals to expect a tough battle.
Omanyala registered the third-fastest time in the world this year in the men's 100m during the national trials after clocking 9.85 seconds, only 0.1 seconds shy of his season's best.
"I've long since qualified for Budapest, but running 9.85 feels good. It was unexpected. Budapest is now the priority, and I feel more ready than I was for Oregon 2022," Omanyala said.
"I've been seeking opportunities to compete. It's nice that I finally have them and I'm willing to compete in two races each month," Omanyala said. Omanyala heads into the championships buoyed by his performance at the KipKeino Classic on May 13, where he clocked 9.84.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who will be flying the country's flag in the 800m, has also expressed a burning desire to storm the podium. Wanyonyi clocked 1:44.09 ahead of Alex Ng'eno, who also qualified in 1:44.21.
"Everything looks excellent and as we prepare to leave for Budapest, I encourage our supporters to stand with us. I felt powerful during the race and all I wanted to do was place among the top three to be in a good position for Budapest," Wanyonyi said.
World 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech has pledged a sublime performance after making the final list. She secured a spot in Budapest after posting 9:09.43 ahead of Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech (9:14.56) and Faith Cherotich.
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"The focus is on Budapest, where we hope for the best," Chepkoech said.
Former world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot said he hopes to stamp authority in the race after fizzing out to sixth in Eugene, Oregon, last year.
Cheruiyot clocked 3:34.1 to lead world indoor champion Abel Kipsang, ( 3:34.30) and world under-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot (3:34.34) to the finish.
“My goal is to run well and reclaim my title in Budapest. I was impressed with my performance at the trials. The experience carried the day,” said Cheruiyot.
The nation will seek to reclaim the men’s 10,000m title after 21 years. The onus to exorcise the heart-wrenching drought has been bestowed upon a talent-laden triumvirate, determined to storm to the title in Budapest.
Among them is Kibiwott Kandie, who possesses the mojo to turn around the country’s fortunes. He will be flying the country’s flag alongside Nicholas Kimeli and Bernard Kibet.
“All I can hope for is a positive result in Budapest. My training has been superb and I aim to keep up the effort. That’s why I performed so well in the 10k road race,” said Kandie, who has a personal best time of 27:20.34 over the distance.
“My focus in Budapest will not be to lower my PB but to clinch a medal for the country. I’m not keen on going for the world record either.”
Kandie reckons they can pull off a masterclass act in Budapest while echoing Kirwa’s remarks.
“All we need now is a successful plan to increase our gold medal total at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary,” said Kandie.
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