It was an emotional day during Refugee Athletes Support program trials at the Lornah Kiplagat Sports Academy in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County today.
The trials brought together three disciplines: track, judo and taekwondo as part of their training ahead of World Athletics championships in Tokyo, Japan, Youth Olympics in Dakar, Senegal and 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
As they find peace in Kenya, majority of them wish that their respective nations could respect human life and end the war through all means and sports could make it better since it is the general arbiter, bringing all sectors on board.
South Sudanese athlete Samuel Alice and Afghanistan international Omidulla Alizadah decried lack of peace in their nations causing havoc that could have been avoided.
Speaking after winning the 1,500m in the senior women category, with tears rolling, Alice said she wants to win a medal at the international level with hopes of becoming a coach back in her home to preach peace through sports.
“Sports brings peace and some years to come, I want to be a coach so that I preach peace through sports and be like Kenyans who don’t fight each other,” she said.
She added: “When I came to Kenya, I realized that I have a talent in running and started training. I really want to a champion like Mary Moraa and Faith Kipyegon to help my family in future,” said the 19 year old Alice.
Conducting an interview with emotions, Alice said that her father died during the war back in her country and was evacuated to kakuma camp with the people not known to her.
“It was bad, losing our father at the war and moved to Kakuma in 2016. I came with two brothers before our mother followed us. However, two our brothers are still in South Sudan,” she said.
Competing in taekwondo Alizadah said that back in his Afghanistan, the war is on the minority side that they are discriminated to the highest level.
“It it very bad to be in the minority tribe in our country so I ran to this safe country,” said Alizadah.
Selected track results
200m junior women
- alma Sabina-31.1
- Rose Ilele Joseph- 31.4
- Nyataba Gathath- 33.1
200m junior men
- Thomas Lokai- 26.9
- Msafiri Rwakan- 27.0
- Abdaraham Mustaf Hassan- 28.0
200m senior women
- Zinad Akulang- 27.2
- Rose Ihisa- 31.9
- Susan Nakiro-34.1
200m senior men
- Kun War Liem- 22.1
- Ayela Solomon- 23.7
- Taban Gatkuoth- 24.2
5,000m senior men
- Mohammed kamal Jiema 15:47.0
- Abdiraman Jamal 16:30.6
- Kaboyi Andrea Baraka- 16:35.5
1,500m junior women
- Agnes Keji- 6:14.4
- Velocity Nyunyu- 6:17.6
1,500m senior women
- Samuel Alice- 5:43.0
1,500m senior men
- Abdi fatah Aden 4:25.3
- Dario Lokoro- 4:32.7
- James Lokidich 4:36.8
400m junior women
- Micakal Lemunyang- 1:13.2
- Alma Sabina- 1:14.1
- Rose Ilele Joseph- 1:16.1
400m senior women
- Perinah Nakuanga 1:01.2
- Josephine Nekang 1:09.8
- Rose Ihisa 1:14.7
400m junior men
- Nakoten Lokang 59.9
- Musafiri Ruhakana Zamda 61.8
- Peter Gatkuoth 62.4
400m junior men
- Thomas Lokia 60.2
400m senior men
- Kun war Liem- 54.3
- Ayela Solomon 55.0
- Lokujopio Mario 55.0
3,000m junior women
- Estarina irino 11:29.9
- Emmaculate napeyok 12:57.4
- Amin Nikaline 13:24.1
3,000m senior men
- Dario Lokore 9:29.9
- Baraka Kaboi 9:43.4
- William Lokwar 9:49.6
800m junior women
- Malakal 2:54.4
- Akacha James 3:10.1
800m senior women
- Perina Nakang 2:22.3
- Zinad Akulang 2:27.6
- Josephine tain 2:51.9
800m junior men
- Dominic Onyele 2:19.6
- Peter Gatkuoth 2:51.1
- Thomas Lokai 2:35.3
800m senior men
- Thon Abraham Guot 1:57.1
- John Lokibe 2:03.8
- Simon Lomua 2:05.8