Team Kenya has arrived in Nigeria to participate in the third edition of the CAA African U18/U20 Combined Athletics Championships. The team, comprising 47 athletes, will compete in the five-day event, which kicks off today at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
Athletics Kenya (AK) Youth Committee Secretary Joseph Ilovi expressed confidence that the team will perform well in Nigeria, surpassing their previous performance in Ndola, Zambia.
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“I’m confident the team will perform better than at the last event in Ndola, Zambia. Our target is to continue with our dominance in athletics,” Ilovi said after arrival in Lagos, Nigeria. Faith Onserio, who will represent Kenya in the 400m, said, “We have had a good training camp at Kasarani and we are looking forward to a great performance in Nigeria.” “I’m targeting a podium finish at the event,” added the form four student at Riooga Secondary School in Nyamira County.
The team is captained by sprinter Clinton Aluvi and middle-distance runner Joyline Jepkemoi. Aluvi will represent the country in the 100m and 200m events, while Jepkemoi will participate in the 1500m event. Jepkemoi, the 2023 Africa Under-18 1,500m silver medalist, said the team is highly motivated and ready to conquer the continent.
Anastasha Langat, Mercy Koskey, and Sheila Chepng’eno will lead Kenya’s hunt for medals in the 3000m final.
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Carren Serem and Millicent Jepkonga will be in action in the women’s 1500m U-18 category final, while Lawi Ng’etich and Ezekiel Kipkorir will lead the medal hunt in the men’s U-18 category race.
Team Kenya
Aluvi and Brian Okoth will get their campaign underway today when they take part in the U20 men’s 100m heats. Head Coach Robert Ngisirei said the team has fine-tuned its techniques and expressed confidence that they will return as champions.
The squad also received words of encouragement from two-time African and Commonwealth 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala. He urged the athletes to remain focused on both education and athletics.
With a strong team and determined athletes, Team Kenya is poised to make a statement in the CAA U18/20 championships. The team’s performance will be closely watched, and their dominance in athletics is expected to continue. The athletes were kitted at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, by AK Youth Committee chairman Barnaba Korir, before departing for Nigeria.
