Koech says Kenya can shine at Decathlon

Gilbert Koech says Kenya could further widen its medal prospects at major championships if the right facilities were available for its multi-talented citizens.

Koech who is the country’s solo representative in the Decathlon at the Commonwealth Games admitted pole has been his let-down at the 10-discipline-event where he set a handful personal bests (PBs).

The 28-year-old scored 431 points (PB) in the men’s pole vault but finished fourth and also had decent performances in javelin and throws although he misfired in the jumps.

“It was not easy but my target was to set several records, they were so many technicalities that I could not understand, my most difficult event was pole vault, because we don’t have the facilities and you don’t even get time to train,” Koech told Citizen Digital.

He set six new personal best, after clocking 11.38 seconds in event one the 100m race, he then jumped 6.29 in Long jump before setting two quick personal bests in the Shot put (13.21) and High jump (1.83).

In other events Koech, clocked  49.28 in 400m, a personal best of 15.63 in 110m hurdles, 40.80m (PB) in Discuss through, 3.30 (PB) in Pole Vault,  58:27 Javelin and finishing in 4.31:82 in 1500m.

“Where I have reached I am so happy. It was not my target I thank God because this is my first major event.”

He however calls on the Government to invest heavily on the so called less popular sports.

“We need a lot of exposure, like now running with Damian of Canada on the same line who is a world champion it makes me feel like I can also do it, and also having more Kenyans in the event it gives someone lots of morale”.