The World Under 20 Athletics Championships team, was officially flagged off by Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, on Friday morning at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani, Nairobi.
The team of 22 athletes received the flag from Murkomen, who urged them to take the event seriously since the country will depend on them Los Angelos Olympics set for 2028.
“We are depending on you and we shall scrutinize your performance, even if you will not win a medal but you ran well, we shall consult on how to support your career development. Some of the senior athletes who represented us in Paris Olympics Games will have retired or moved to other races.” Said Murkomen.
Murkomen promised to add cash to the athletes who will have won a medal as motivation package. A gold, silver and bronze medallist will receive cash awards of Ksh 500,000, Ksh 350,000 and Ksh 150,000 respectively.
“I has your Cabinet Secretary want to promise you that anyone, who will win a medal, I and my friends will each add ksh 100,000.” Murkomen added.
The CS also told Kenyans to support other athletes who have changed allegiance to other countries adding that it is part of labor exportation.
“Our sister Winfred Yavi has our full support, to run for the country that she is running for, however, she must know, that we will allow athletes to run for other countries but we shall be beat them. I understand that we have lost most of our traditional races because some of our coaches and technical teams are not well equipped with the latest science and technology to produce world beaters. That we are looking into with the federation to equip them.” Noted Murkomen.
While receiving the flag, Team Kenya captain Edmund Serem, said that he will lead by example adding that if all goes well, we bring medals at the five-day championship which will start on August 27th and end on 31st August.
“This will not be like Cali Columbia where we lost number 1 and 2 to Ethiopia. Mathew Kosgey and I have been working on our team work we raced together the Africa Senior championships and brought a silver and bronze. If all goes well, we shall bring a gold and a silver.” Said Serem.
The team is expected to depart for Lima, Peru on Saturday at 4am aboard KLM at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.
Team Kenya
Men
- Stephen Ndangiri KIHU-10,000m Race Walk
- Andrew Kiptoo ALAMISI- 5000m
- Collins Koech KIBIWOTT- 1500m
- Josphat KIPKIRUI- 1500m
- Denis KIPKOECH -3000m
- Ishmael Rokitto KIPKURUI- 5000m
- Kelvin Kimutai KOECH -800m
- Phanuel Kipkosgei KOECH -800m
- Matthew KOSGEI- 3000m
- Clinton Kimutai NGETICH -3000m
- Edmund SEREM -3000m Steeplechase
Women
- Diana CHEPKEMOI -3000 Steeplechase
- Mercy CHEPKEMOI -3000m
- Sharon CHEPKEMOI -3000m
- Sheila JEBET- 5000m
- Janet JEPKEMOI- 800m
- Marion JEPNGETICH -3000m
- Miriam Chemutai KIBET -1500m
- Mary Nyaboke OGWOKA- 1500
- Sarah MORAA 800m