The reigning Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) 20m bronze medalist Sylvia Jerono Kemboi will be seeking a bronze medal if she makes the team to this year’s Africa Senior Athletics championships that will be staged in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Kemboi, who finished 4th at the concluded Africa Games in Accra, Ghana said that she will be taking on the national trials for the championships at the Ulinzi Sports Complex starting from Tuesday morning to Wednesday seriously to secure a ticket to Yaoundé to improve on her medal.
“I want to compete at the national trials with all my energy to earn that coveted slot and focus on improving on my medal,” said Kemboi.
With the race walk team failing to compete at the world race walking mixed Relay in Antalya, Turkey, she said that she will be using the event as part of her qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris, France come August.
“If I walk well, I would like to use the event as part of the Olympic Games qualifying time after missing time in Accra at the Africa Games. This is a very important event, not just for me but all other Kenyans seeking the tickets to Paris,” she said.
In Accra, she said that she was very ready to earn the slot but the race officials rang the bell with a lap to go hence denying them finishing time.
“It was so bad that we did not get our time in Accra, then missed the Antalya championships. It is so bad, however, we still have an opportunity to qualify for Paris,” she added.
Speaking at her training base at the Complete Sports in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu county before heading to Nairobi for the two day national trials, she said that all has been going on well in training for the good results.
“I have been practicing well in preparations for the national championships and Africa championships by competing in many Athletics Kenya track and field weekend meetings across the country,” said Kemboi.
She will be facing off with Africa Games 21km walk champion Emily Wamusyi Ngii of Kenya Defence Forces, Mary Nduta from Central, Margaret Gati Chacha from Central Rift, Ruth Namukula of Western, Susan Kilongi representing KATTI, Naom Chepkirui of KDF, Mercyline Nakhumicha Wanjala of Nairobi, Damaris Sumukwo Keitany competing for National Youth Service (NYS, Grace Wana Muthoni also from NYS, Caren Naliaka Simiyu from Western, among others.
In men’s battle, Eastern’s Erick Maugo Sikuku will lead the contingent alongside Eastern’s Shadrack Mwanzi Paul, Amos Etyang from KATTI, Ian Wekesa (KATTI), Nicodemus Mutuku of KDF, Simon Wachira (KDF), Stephen Mukutu from KDF, Dominic Mwenda Albert competing for Nairobi, Dominic Ndigiti Samson also from Nairobi, Bisnark Kipyego from North Rift, Heristone Wanyonyi Wafula from National Police Service and reigning champion Samuel Gathimba of Kenya Prisons Service.