Field event athletes have called on the ministry of Sports or Athletics Kenya to expose their talents to enable them compete against top world class athletes.
Three-time national Shot Put champion Peter Mwangi is optimistic that with the World Championships and other events coming ahead of them, if exposed, they will be able to compete at the Budapest events among other championships.
Speaking in Kisumu over the weekend after winning back to back Shot Put titles over the weekend, Mwangi said that despite the victory, he was not happy after failing to meet his target.
“Yes, I won but I’m not happy with the results because that was not my best with a 15.60m but my target is 17m,” said Mwangi.
He won the title with a 15.60m followed by Kenya Defence Forces Alex Wachira was second with 14.61 as compatriot Fredrick Chumba was third in 14.09.
In shot put women, Nairobi based Linda Kageha won the title after throwing 12.82m followed by KDF’s Saraha Atieno (12.50) and Maurine Akisa’s 11.61.
He said that as field athletes especially in the Shot put discipline, they are not that motivated like track events because it needs a lot of training and proper eating.
“We eat a lot so we have to try our best. What I can tell the government or Athletics Kenya is that we need more exposure and if there is a chance for us to compete outside Kenya especially we shall perform well,” he said.
After missing the Commonwealth Games slot in Birmingham, he said the miss had a small margin that if they had many events and exposure, they could have made it.
“Last year, I had 16.34 but to qualify for the Commonwealth Games, they needed a 16.80m to qualify. See I missed by a small margin. If we can get such exposure, because they say that one has to qualify before making it to a world event but if we are not given such chances, I can even qualify while outside this country. We really need it,” he added.
“Personally, I can’t say that I lack training equipment, I have my own things and I train at home on my own. I have a coach called Elizabeth Olaba. What I miss is exposure only but I thank god because this year, I have started well and I will do my best,” he added.
“The kind of exposure I need, you know Kenya right now, there are only two throwers with 16m throwers and if we are taken out there and compete in a new environment, facing off with the best throwers who can beat us, we shall know our mistakes. We should not just be seeing these people on television but we need to challenge each other and they will boost our morale,” he expressed