Athletics Kenya (AK) have announced a strong squad of 30 to represent [link id=”81″ tax=”category” text=”Kenya”] at the second [link id=”332″ tax=”post_tag” text=”IAAF World Relays Championships”] in Nassau, the Bahamas from May 2-3, 2015.
The team was selected during an ecstatic national trial which concluded at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani last weekend.
According to the Athletics Kenya, the national championships, sponsored by mobile phone service provider Safaricom, awoke the sleepy facility with rapturous cheers as the best of the best engaged the winning team gear and battled for positions in the squad to the annual global tournament.
Double World champion and a member of the world record-breaking 4 x 1,500m team [link id=”207″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Asbel Kiprop”] and Commonwealth silver medallist [link id=”706″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Ronald Kwemoi”] gave an impressive account of themselves after blissfully anchoring their team to victory in the men Medley Relay.
Running in Athletics Kenya team A, the ever-agile and leggy Kiprop, together with Abednego Chesebe and Nicholas Bett, won in 9:25.81 after covering the four segments of 1200m, 400m, 800m and 1600m.
Kiprop expressed optimism that the team that will commence it’s final preparations in Nairobi ahead of the championships would do well and try to sneak in medals where it flattered in the inaugural event in the same place last year.
“The race was perfect. Although the Medley Relay is a new inclusion, personally I have been preparing well in order to give the best in my part.
“I prefer the 800m section since I plan to compete in the event in the World championship later in the year,” said Kiprop, who shifted his training base from Eldoret to Iten this year.
In women the women’s category, the unavailability of World 800m champion Eunice Sum did not deter the quartet of Selah Jepleting, Emily Cherotich, Silvia Chesebe and Virginia Nyambura from securing deserving victory in 10:58.0 against 11:11.9 returned by Athletics Kenya B of Caroline Chepkemoi, Vivian Chelangat, Penina Wangari and Beatrice Chepkoech.
Other Relay teams selected included the 4 x 200m men where Pius Muia, Geoffrey Kiprotich, Michael Mokamba, Mark Otieno and Collins Omae will form the competing squad and 4 x 400m composed of Alexander Sampao, Boniface, Mwereza, Michael Makan, Alfred Keshoyan and Raymond Kibet.
The high profile trial that culminated in the selection of the national team was witnessed by Safaricom Staff led by the it’s Chief Executive Officer Bob Collymore and all [link id=”199″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Athletics Kenya”] Executive under the Federation President [link id=”703″ tax=”post_tag” text=”Isaiah Kiplagat”].
The team, which will be led by coach Sammy Rono, and assisted by sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki and Rose Tata Muya, will depart for Nassau on April 27, 2015.
Kenyan team to the IAAF World Relays 2015:
Men:
4 x 400m
- Alex Sampao
- Boniface Mwereza
- Michael Makan
- Alphas Keshoyan
- Raymond Kibet
4 x 200m
- Michael Mokamba
- Collins Omae
- Pius Muia
- Geofrrey Kiprotich
- Mark Otieno
4 x 800m
- Alfred Kipketer
- Nicholas Kiplagat
- Jeremiah Mutai
- Timothy Kitum
- Bernard Kipyegon
Medley relay
- Abednego Chesebe (1200m)
- Josephe Poghiso (400m)
- Asbel Kiprop (800m)
- Fergusson Rotich (800m)
- Ronald Kwemoi (1600m)
Women:
4x 800m
- Annet Mwanzi
- Sheila Chesang
- Sylvia Cherop
- Purity Cherotich
- Eglay Nalianya
Medley relay
- Selah Jepleting (1200m)
- Emily Cherotich (400m)
- Sylvia Chesebe (800m)
- Joyce Zakary (400m)
- Francisca Koki (400m)
Meet The Authors
Yomog Meje is a former Nigerian junior athlete and the Associate editor at Athletics Africa.
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