Mucheru seeking top honours in London

Rio Olympics 400m hurdles silver medalist Boniface Mucheru is confident of overcoming injury setbacks to shine at the forthcoming IAAF World Athletics Championships scheduled for August 3-13 in London.

Mucheru who secured qualification to the finals of the 2017 Kenya Defence Forces Championships on Wednesday said he hopes to clinch his first World title at the English capital despite enduring a poor start at this year’s Doha Diamond League.

Mucheru clocked 50.61 seconds in Doha to settle for a seventh place finish with compatriot Nicholas Bett just missing out on a podium finish when he stopped the timer at 49.70 seconds for fourth.

“Everything is going to be okay soon. I could not react well because of the injuries but I shall be travelling next week to Europe for treatment.

“I experience the same challenge last year as we were preparing for the Olympics but that did not make me lose hope. I was focused on clearing all hurdles and I did it; that silver medal I won was very motivating,” Mucheru told Citizen Digital at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Meanwhile, Olympian and African walking race queen Grace Wanjiru successfully defended her KDF title for the 17th year in a row as the three-day competition entered its Day 2.

Wanjiru won a gold medal for her team Moi Air Base by clocking 1 hour 34 minutes and 15 seconds to leave her closest challenger, Linda Waweru Kahawa Sukari Baracks close to 10 minutes adrift.

Waweru settled for second place in 1 hour 43 minutes and 20 seconds while Ruth Wangui of Laikipia Airbase stopped the timer at 1 hour 47 minutes and 52 seconds to close the podium.

“There is no much competition with the ladies here in Kenya. I usually take advantage and train with the men for speed and endurance,” Wanjiru who trains with African Champion Samuel Gathimba and Simon Wachira said in her post-race interview.

Wanjiru will now shift her focus to the National championships where she hopes to walk below 1:30 as she eyes a podium finish at the August World championships making her Olympics debut in Rio last year.

“I learnt a lot from Rio, I have actually improved a lot in my training I do things that I didn’t use to do like water training more of endurance and speed work. If I will be able to run under 1:29 at the nationals and lower the time further then I shall be confident of a podium finish at the world championships,” she added.

Her counterpart Samuel Wachira of Gilgil dethroned veteran David Kimutai, posting 1:27.18 to clinch the men’s title.

Kimutai of Nanyuki settled for second place in 1:31.35 while Nicodemus Musau also from Nanyuki took bronze in 1:33.01.

In another final of the day, Former world junior silver medalist Marion Kibor of KAH had a motivational performance after suffering a long time hip injury to clinch the KDF 3,000m steeplechase title ahead of Mercy Wanjiru of Laikipia Airbase.

Kibor who was the race favorite took charge of the race in the third lap opting to lay back as others performed rabbit duties for her.

She stopped the timer at 9:56.4 for the top podium place as Wanjiru followed her closely and clocked 10:07.0 as Elizabeth Mueni settled for third place in 10:23.3