Skipper Choge leads Kenya athletics team to Oregon

A team of 10 athletes captained by Augustine Choge on Tuesday left for the World Indoor Championships which start on Thursday at Oregon Convention Centre, Portland, Oregon, United States.

After the skipper’s recent track triumph in the 2015 World Indoor Series 3,000m title, Choge and company travelled to Oregon full of confidence and will be hoping to fly high the country’s flag at the four-day championships.

Despite Choge’s tendon injury that kept him off the track for almost the entire of last season, Athletics Kenya assistant President Paul Mutwii has backed the 29-year-old to shine in Oregon.

“He is not complaining of any injury and therefore from what we saw him do during the circuit it only means he has completely healed from that injury,” said Mutwii.

Mutwii also tipped 800m World Indoor Championship first-timer Margaret Nyairera to make proud the country saying she has been preparing well for the event.

“We are not taking anyone because we have imaginations that they will perform well. We have been monitoring Nyairera’s trainings and her fitness levels are impressive. It is true that most athletes that were selected have good experience but despite being her first time she will do well,’ added Nyairera.

The Kenyan team will be joined by USA-based Betsy Saina in Portland where track action will start proper on Friday and will be taking part in six events -400m men, 800m men and women, 1,500m men and 3,000m men and women.

Caleb Mwangangi, 23, clocked 7:54.94 to win the 3,000m title, stopping Kenyan-born Bernard Lagat from USA from winning his second World Indoor title. Lagat, who won it last in 2004, settled for silver in 7:55.22. Choge, who won silver over the same distance in 2012, finished ninth in 7:57.46.

Hellen Obiri gave Kenya silver in 3,000m after failing to defend her title that went to Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba.

The 2012 Istanbul World Indoor remain Kenya’s most successful outing. The country won four medals; two gold, one silver and one bronze.

-Report by Mercy Rop-