St Francis Kimuron High school trio of Fanuel Koech, Benson Tipapa Kirongos and Cleophas Koromon have been favoured to win the International Schools Sports Federation (ISF) World Cross Country for Schools that will be staged next Saturday at the Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi.
Their school games teacher Boniface Limo said that the trio is capable of winning medals, especially gold, to maintain the culture of the school for shining in sports, especially athletics.
“As a teacher, the entire school is expecting the three athletes to bring gold in their categories when the championships start on Saturday. We have been in constant communication with both the students and their coaches at their training base in Ngong,” said Limo.
Koech, who won the national trials held last month at the Nakuru High school in Nakuru county will be competing in the under 18 category, the highest ranked age at the championships that also features the under 15 and under 12.
“Koech has been very consistent both in school and other championships. He won the Rift valley secondary schools Sports Association championships held in Kapsabet as well as finishing 4th at the Africa Under 20 championships held last year in Ndola, Zambia in the 800m,” explained Limo.
The Form two student at the school Kirongos won the under 15 title at the trials to earn the slot into team Kenya after winning Rift valley championships.
“He is still a young boy who can maintain the culture of our school in running. At his age, competing in the under 15 will keep him fit for long,” said Limo.
Also competing in the under 15 is Koromon, wh finished 7th at the trials and 10 at the Rift Valley championships.
“I have seen their training sessions and they are doing well. We want to maintain running culture in the school after producing some of the top names that includes the world 800m record holder David Rudisha among others,” said Limo.
Elsewhere, the Uasin Gishu county Primary schools Sports Association chairman Paul Tororei has exhibited confidence that pupils from his county will shine at the championships.
He said that the children, who are still young with lack of exposure will be the key for this country in terms of talent production.
“All of these athletes came from the Athletics Kenya Junior camps and we expect them to shine because they have had some good training both at the camps and now in the Kenya team,” said Tororei.
He challenged other nations to follow the Kenyan route of selecting the children due to age cheating.
“Age factor matters a lot and it remains a big challenge. Kenya might have selected the right age but other nations may pose a challenge after facing head on at the FEASSA,” he said.
The county produced athletes like Samuel Otuta, a pupil at Kwenet Primary School, Solomon Kiprono of Rotuga Primary, Benjamin Shikuku from Cheptigit Primary and Ivy Jepkosgei of Tingwa Primary as well as Dennis Kiprop of Tingwa Primary.