Kishoiyan sets sights on Yokohama as Relay series kicks off

The 2011 World 400m Youth silver medalist Alphas Kishoiyan is eager to kick start season on a high as the Athletics Kenya (AK) relay series kick off on Saturday at the Prisons, Nairobi West grounds.

Kishoiyan said he is ready for the build-up that will culminate in the trials of selecting team Kenya for the World Relay Championships to be held in May 11-12, in Yokohama, Japan.

“I have prepared well ahead of the build ups because my focus is mainly to make the team for the World Relays. As we start tomorrow, I feel I am in good shape,” said Kishoyian.

Saturday’s event was earlier earmarked to be held in Mombasa but due to the change in calendar of events by AK it was shifted back to Nairobi.

The second meet will be held in Kisumu on March 16 with the third and final series taking place in Nakuru on April 6. A week later, Lorna Kiplagat stadium will host the trials that will be used to select team Kenya for the global showpiece.

Kishoiyan was part of the team Kenya that finished sixth in the inaugural 4x400m mixed relay at the 2017 championships held in Nassau, Bahamas together with Jacinter Shikanda, Boniface Mweresa and Veronica Mutua.

In the 2015 championships also held in Nassau, Bahamas, Kishoiyan together with Alexander Sampao, Boniface Mweresa and Michael Makan formed team Kenya in the 4x400m race.

The 24-year-old said he will compete in 400m and 800m in the build ups while he also welcomed the two new relay events introduced by IAAF.

“In the build-up session I will be participating in 400m and 800m which I will ideally use to asses my training thus far. With the two new events being introduced, I think we will work hard so that we can meet the qualifications,” said Kishoiyan.

The two events introduced ahead of the biennial event are; the 2x2x400m and a mixed shuttle hurdle relay that will involve two men and two women on each team running 110m legs.

On the other hand, the mixed 2x2x400m race requires both members of the team to run two 400m legs of a relay.

After having a feel of the past two World events, Kishoiyan is adamant that Kenya can be a force to reckon in relays if adequate training is attained as well as enough support from the authorities is accorded.

“It has been a good lesson for us in the previous editions. We may have struggled but we are constantly improving and if we can have proper training and enough support from the government then we can make it to the top,” observed Kishoiyan.

Kishoyian who trains at the Rongai Athletics Club clinched gold in 2017 African Championships held in Asaba, Nigeria in the 4x400m event alongside the trio of Aron Koech, Emmanuel Korir and Jared Momanyi.