Fresh from setting a world record in 3,000m at the concluded World masters Indoor Championships in Florida, USA, Francis Kipkoech Bowen was highly receied by veteran athletes in Eldoret yesterday.
With a heroic welcome, the legends used to opportunity to call on the government to recognize their efforts after representing the nation in various championships across the world.
The legends have petitioned the Senate to so that they can get some support in their aging years after flying the Kenyan flag high.
Competing in men’s 50 years Bowen won the second gold after Peter Kamau Mwangi won gold in the shot put men setting the record at 8:36.23 ahead of Gregory Mitchell (9:07.85) for silver and Spaniard Santiago De La Fuente Martin settling for bronze in 9:14.14.
The legends said that as they laid the foundation, they made the country an athletics powerhouse as they seek to get Parliament’s support for sports legends to be recognized.
Those who attended the consultative meeting were 1972 Munich Olympic bronze medalist in 800m Prof Mike Boit, a 1972, sprinter Charles Asati, 1968 3000m steeplechase Olympic gold medallist Amos Biwott with wife Vivian and 1991 African champion Susan Sirma, former Berlin marathon champion Simon Biwott, former New York City marathon silver medalist Christopher Cheboiboch.