Eastern Africa Youth Championships

Veronica Nyaruai, the 16yearold World Cross Country junior silver medallist who has been setting records of sorts this year skipped the Eastern Africa Youth Championships which start today (9 May)  in Arusha, Tanzania to recover from her sensational race  on Saturday.

Nyaruai finished second in the women's 3000 metres field of the Africa Athletic Confederation Permit meeting in Nairobi behind Prisicah Jepleting but ahead of experienced Alice Timbilil, the silver medallist at the World Cross women's long course race and Sally Barsosio, a World champion nine years ago at the 10,000m.

Nyaruai has been rested to prepare for the World Youth Championships in Marrakesh, July 13-17, where she would be entered in the 1500m and 3000m, Athletics Kenya Public Relations Officer Peter Angwenyi announced yesterday, but must first qualify during the Kenyan trials, on 14 and 15 June.

The Kenyan team is spearheaded by Lydia Wafula, sixth in the 800m semi final of last year's World Junior Championships, who will attempt a triple in the 100m, 200m and 400m in Arusha.

The East Africa Cross Country champion in the 6km Mutwa Sammy will run in the 1500m together with Mercy Kosgei and Irene Jelgat.

The most interesting boy entrant is obviously David Rudisha, son of Daniel Rudisha who was a member of the Kenyan 4x400m relay team with Robert Ouko, Charles Asati and Julius Sang, who won gold at Munich Olympic Games.

Only the late Samson Kitur, third in Barcelona Olympics, has come near to measuring to their greatness since. Like his father, David will compete in the sprints, the 100m.

The regional meeting has brought together athletes from Kenya, Uganda, Zanzibar, Rwanda, Burundi, Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda.

The Kenyan team to the East African Youth Championships:

Boys:
100m: David Rudisha, George Koech
800m: Joseph Kiplimo Kitur, Gilbert Kiprop
1500m: Matheka Muinde, Gilbert Yego
3000m: Levy Matebo, Evans Kibet
2000m Steeple: Julius Too, Yusuf Biwott
110m Hurdles: Jacob Bitok, Wesley Mengich.
400m Hurdles: Wesley Mengich, Kenneth Kimeli 
 
Girls
100/200m: Lydia Wafula, Vectorine Jepkurui
400m: Lydia Wafula
800m: Winnie Chebet
1500m: Irene Jelagat Birgen, Mutwa Sammy, Mercy Kosgei
3000m: Purity Changwony
100/400m Hurdles: Betty Chelagat.

Peter Njenga (Daily Nation) for the IAAF