Field event athletes were the first Kenyans to qualify for the forthcoming world under 20 championships set to be held at the Kasarani stadium in Nairobi, Kenya between August 17th to 22nd.
The 2018 Africa Youth Games javelin gold medallist Martha Musai, Imani Sid Markurs, Linda Kageha, Titus Kiptoo and two time East Africa Secondary School Games high jump bronze medalist Zeddy Chesire have qualified to fly the Kenyan flag after dominating day one of national under 20 trials staged at Kasarani stadium.
Competing for Southern, Musai threw 49.30m to cut into the Kenya team to win the women’s javelin final edging out North Rift’s Gladys Jepkemboi to second place in 45.11.
Markurs edged out Dennis Kiprotich from South Rift and Central Rift’s Nickson Kipkirui.
Coming from Nyanza, Kageha threw 37.34m to win women’s discus as Kiptoo managed 46.00m to win men’s title.
Chesire also qualified to represent Kenya in high jump after edging out Dar-Ziv Nyah Jemeli in a tie-breaker. Chesire cleared all her jumps at 1.50m, 1.55m, 1.60m, 1.65 and 1.68m as Jemeli failed on her first attempt at 1.65m before succeeding on her second attempt.
In discuss, Linda Kageha and Titus Kiptoo will represent the country in women and men categories respectively.
Levi Kivet and Emmanuel Kiplagat dominated the men’s 5,000m semi-finals.
Kibet won the second semi with in 13:26.11 ahead of Samuel Kibathi and Ezra Kiplangat in 13:35.60 and 13:38.52 respectively.
Kiplagat clocked 13:56.86 edging out Benson Kiplang’at and Reuben Mosin in 13:57.49 and 13:58.47 respectively.
In 1,500m, Vincent Keter won his 1,500m second heat in 3:42.44, beating Emmanuel Lemama to second place in 3:43.17 to all qualify for the final with Simon Kipkogei won the first heat in 3:46.87.
Amos Serem timed 8:25.36 to win the water and barriers second semifinal ahead of Simon Kiprop (8:28.89) and Aron Bett (8:43.00).
Ronald Kipng’etich clocked 8:50.67 to win the men’s 3,000m steeplechase semi-final 2 as Alan Kiplangat ((8:54.37) and Joash Ruto (8:58.14) finished second and third respectively.
Vincent Keter won the first semi-final of the men’s 1500m, timing 3:42.41 ahead of Emmanuel Lemama (3:43.17) and Gilbert Kipngetich (3:47.75).