Lumbasi out to leave foot-print in Valencia

Lumbasi out to leave foot-print in Valencia

Family Bank Half Marathon champion Joram Lumbasi is upbeat of making a mark in the IAAF World Half Marathon championships slated for Valencia, Spain on March 24 which will be his maiden competition for his country.

Lumbasi is in the five-man team to represent Kenya in the biennial competition alongside two-time champion Geoffrey Kamworor, 2016 runners-up Bedan Karoki, Mattoni Usti and Labem Half-Marathon champion Barselius Kipyego and Leonard Barsoton.

The Iten-based athlete said he is elated by the prospect of representing his country in an international competition although he is wary of the uphill task that awaits him when he takes on his compatriots in the Spanish city.

“First of all I am happy to represent Kenya because it is something I have envisaged for long and this will push me to train hard since I will be facing the likes of Kamworor, Karoki among others,” said Lumbasi.

With less than two months due to the championships, Lumbasi is now stepping up his preparation as he aims to wrestle the gold medal from the defending champion Kamworor who will be in the hunt for a three consecutive title.

In the build-up to the global championships, Lumbasi will be participating in the RAK half marathon slated for  February 9, in the United Arab Emirates.

Joyciline Jepkosgei

“My target is to win a gold medal and right now I am preparing myself for RAK half marathon so that I can assess my body fitness in readiness for the competition,” the soft-spoken athlete added.

Beside successfully defending the Family Bank Half marathon title last year, Lumbasi was the runners-up in the Copenhagen Half Marathon before finishing off the season with a  fifth-place finish in the New Delhi Half Marathon in a time of 59 minutes, 58 seconds, which he hopes to build on as the new season begins.

“Last year I think was a good season for me but  I would like to achieve even more this year. I ‘m now embarking on my speed work which I think is key to lowering my time,” the 21-year-old told Citizen Digital in an inteview on the sidelines of the Discovery Kenya Cross Country in Eldoret at the weekend.

A total of 10 athletes (five men and five women) will represent Kenya in this year’s championships with World half marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei leading  Kenya’s women team that comprises Fancy Chemutai, Ruth Chepngetich, Pauline Kaveke, and Mary Wacera.

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Spain Valencia AAF World Half Marathon championships Family Bank Half Marathon champion Joram Lumbasi

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