Reigning Africa Senior Athletics Championships 20km walk bronze medalist, Sylvia Jerono Kemboi will be chasing her second Athletics Kenya track and field title this weekend in Thika, Kiambu County.
After winning in Kisumu and finishing second at the Nairobi Meet, the Uasin Gishu based walker said that she will be chasing to improve on her time ahead of world Athletics championships in Budapest, Hungary in August.
“Right now, I am trying to earn that qualifying time for the World Championships. The stakes are high and for me to achieve that, I have to work extra by improving my skills and endurance,” said Kemboi.
With Africa Games 20km walk champion Emily Musyini out of Thika show that starts on Friday morning to Saturday, Kemboi will be the athlete to watch after losing the Nairobi title to Ngii of Kenya Defence Forces.
“I have my personal best of 1:34 but the Budapest time is 1:30.00, which may not be easy to make but I will do my best to meet the qualifying mark in the 20km walk. In Kisumu o won the title with 1:40 and finished second in Nairobi at 1:47.48, which is way back below the mark,” she said.
The reigning national 20km race walk champion attributed the hard courses in Kenya for failing to meet the mark.
“Kenyan courses are so hard to walk and make a mark. However, I want to improve my personal best time so that I make the team to Budapest, which has always been my dream, which will come this year God willing,” she said.
In Nairobi, the Kenya Prisons Service man Samuel Gathimba won the men’s title in 1:26.16 ahead of Dominic Samson Ndigiti, who will also be in Thika to second after timing 1:30.28 with Stephen Ndirangu coming third after timing 1:31.49.
Ngii, who won the Nairobi event in 1:46.46 ahead of Kemboi (1:47.48) and Patriciah Gichuki in (2:02.12) is out of contention.
“I will not make it to Thika because I normally compete in those races that are near Nairobi which may be easy to access,” said Ngii.
Kemboi won her first medal during the Africa championships in Reduit, Mauritius.