Three camps in North Rift and Western Region have vowed to shine at the world under 20 world Athletics championships trials set for July to pick the team that will compete at the championships.
Kaptama in Mount Elgon, in Bungoma County, Chewoyet in West Pokot and Ndura in Trans Nzoia county said they will be using the camps to pick the best.
Led by Timothy Kiptoo, the athletes said they will be competing to retain the title for the third time in a row after winning the 2018 show in Tampere, Finland and Nairobi, Kenya.
“As a team, we are well prepared for the championships and that will bear good fruits,” said,” said Kiptoo.
The 19-year-old form three student at Kongit secondary school said that he looks up at the great runners from the mount Elgon led by Istanbul half marathon champion Rodgers Kwemoi Chumo and Olympian Abel Kipsang, who won bronze at the concluded world Indoor championships, Kiptoo is optimistic that he will make the team, ready to compete in 5,000m and 3,000m.
“These athletes Kwemoi and Kipsang have played a critical role in my career and I want to emulate them. The two comes from this area and they have changed lives not just for them as athletes but the local diversity change,” he said.
Athletics Kenya’s Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir who toured the three camps (Kaptama in Mount Elgon, Chewoyet in West Pokot and Ndsura in Trans Nzoia) on Monday, said that the juniors are ready for the challenges ahead and appreciated the government for the efforts of keeping them in camps.
Korir urged those in charge of various camps to remain truthful to the course ensuring that the young ones produce good results.
“Defending a world title is not as easy as many will think. To make this happen, I want to tell coaches and people who are concern to work extra hard to come out with the best results,” said