Aprot out to bounce back at Prisons Games

The 2015 African 10000m champion Alice Aprot is keen to bounce back to winning ways as the Kenya Prisons Service Athletics championships kick off tomorrow at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.

Aprot who has been struggling with a long-term injury says she is slowly getting to her best and the 25-year-old will be hoping to make it to the National Championships.

She will have to face off with the likes of he 2016 Paris marathon champion Visiline Jepkesho as well as Mercy Wanjiru who will be competing as a guest.

 “Although I am not fully fit my body is currently responding well and I am ready to fight and see what happens. I know it will be very competitive especially since we have new blood in the team, and everybody is of course targeting the World Championships,” said Aprot.

The former African Games champions finished eight at the trials for this year’s African Games a fortnight ago at the same venue as she struggled with a groin injury earlier this year that hampered her quest of making the team for the World Cross Country championships.

World Under-20 3000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chespol will double 1500m and 3000m steeplechase with the world 1500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot set to compete in 800m.

Former World Cross Country champion Lilian Kasait who has had a good run in this year’s Diamond League will be out to defend her title in 5000m while in the men’s contest Cornelius Kangogo will battle out with the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa among others.

According to Prisons coach Gideon Chirchir everything is in place for the annual championships.

“I have met with the athletes at our Prisons Training Staff Training College in Ruiru and I expect a very tough competition starting tomorrow where we have also invited quite a number of guest athletes,” said Chirchir.

Among the guest athletes also include the world under-20 1500m champion and Boaz Kiprugut will both compete in 1500m while Loice Chemning will take part in both 800m and 1500m

Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and African champion in walk racing Samuel Gathimba will also light up the contest in Kasarani.

Prisons will use the two-day championships to select their team for the national championships slated for August 20-22.