Evans Kipruto Maiyo will be seeking his maiden ticket for the Africa Games in triple jump that will be staged later this month in Accra, Ghana during the national Athletics Kenya trials that starts on Tuesday morning to Wednesday at the Nyayo National stadium.
Representing the National Police Service in Gilgil, Maiyo said that with only one athlete that will be selected by Athletics Kenya to represent the country in his rare event of triple jump.
“I have prepared well for the national trials. The whole of last week I have been jumping training speed work of 60m-80m that will give me endurance in take off during the championships,” said Maiyo.
The continental qualification standards stand at 16:00 and Maiyo has managed to set a 15:50m set during Kasarani last year, while Nyayo has 15:50 and 15:84.
“With this distance, I am not very far from qualifying. I have hopes of winning a ticket for Africa games. During the trials, I am sure of meeting the qualifying mark and if I make the trip to Accra, trust me that I will be bringing gold, the first one for this country,” he said.
The Gilgil based police officer will be facing off with four other competitors in his discipline that has Gilbert Kwemoi, Isaac Kirwa, Philip Mwendwa and Dennis Kipchirchir Kangogo.
“We are only five of us in the competition and I want to emerge top so that I earn that single ticket to Accra,” he said.
Last week, the federation announced that only 30 athletes will represent the country at the continental Games, one slot in each category.