African Games bound athletes report to camp

Athletes selected for African Games a report to camp Monday as preparations intensify for the upcoming Games to be held in Morocco from August 19-31.

With barely two weeks remaining to the continental showpiece, athletes will be based at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani for residential training with the team residing at the Roasters Hotel along Thika road.

A total of 61 athletes were selected at the national trials held June at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. The team was however boosted with the inclusion of world beaters, a majority who had missed the trials.

Among the stars included in the team include the Olympics and World 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto who will now team up with the duo of Benjamin Kigen and Joash Kiplimo.

The 2015 World 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng was also drafted in the team to partner World Steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and the fast-rising Mercy Wanjiru.

Also added to the earlier squad is both the men’s and women’s team for the half marathon. The men’s team has Panuel Mkungo, Titus Ekuru and Morris Munene while the women’s team is made up of Hellen Jepkurgat, Grace Kimanzi and Caroline Korir.

The athletics team will be overseen by head coach Julius Kirwa who was put in charge of the middle-and long-distance races as Stephen Mwaniki takes charge of the sprint team while national shot-put record holder Elizabeth Olaba will foresee field events.

Others are Benjamin Mbusya of race walk, Sauli Tabut( jump) and Dan Muchoki who was picked as the technical co-coordinator.

Prior to being convened for the residential training, the athletes were training on their own with the 2015 World javelin champion Julius Yego and national hammer-throwing champion Dominic Abunda some of the stars who have been training at Kasarani.

Kenya will be sending a contingent of 290 sportsmen in 22 disciplines with athletics having been allocated a bigger number of slots.

This year’s championships will go down in four Moroccan cities – Rabat, Casablanca, El Jadida and Khemisset.