7 DAYS TO GO
Martha Musai, the Africa Youth Games javelin winner, is preparing for the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, which will be held from August 17 to 22 at the Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani.
Musai, then a Form Three student at Ngoleni High School in Machakos County, won the continental junior title in Algiers, Algeria in 2018 with a national record of 54:12m. Musai, who claimed she had fond memories of Algiers, where she threw her best, is aiming for a throw of 60 meters or more.
“Since winning a gold medal, I've been refining my tactics in order to improve my performance. Musai, who will compete on day one of the championships, said, "I hope to win gold for my country at the World Under 20 Championships." Her ambition is to become one of the country's greatest javelin throwers. “I started small, but I'm shooting for the stars beyond the World Under-20 Championships. I plan to use the event as a launching pad for upcoming significant events. She stated, "One day, I will participate in larger events and represent Kenya proudly."
Musai began her athletic career as a sprinter while attending Katuli Primary School. She turned to javelin when she was in Standard Eight and competed all the way to nationals. Musai's mother, Stella Maris, spotted her daughter's ability for javelin and sought out a school where it could be cultivated. Musai's talent blossomed in Ngoleni High School under the tutelage of Daniel Munguti, her coach and teacher.
“When you receive help early on, you are able to do the right things and steadily develop. Musai, whose favorite foods include chapati and green grams, said, "I've seen a lot of development in my career, and now I'm striving higher." Due of the covid epidemic, the World U-20 competition was postponed last year. The tournament has piqued the interest of 128 World Athletics member federations.
Kenyan athletes, on the other hand, did not qualify for the field events, although as the host nation, the country was entitled to field one participant in each category despite not qualifying. Musai was given one of the spots. The athlete threw 49.30m at the national trials in Kasarani on July 1-3, missing the 50.50m qualifying standard, but was named to the team after winning the category.
Wilson Lentunyei, who trains at Ngong in Laikipia County, is adamant about following Julius Yego's winning route. “When Yego won a world title at the Beijing World Athletics Championships, I was immediately intrigued to the sport of javelin. When I was selected for Team Kenya, I was ecstatic at the prospect of representing my country on a global stage.
Letunyei stated, "I am certain that I can beat the world and capture the top podium spot in the Javelin finals." Letunyei won the javelin throw with a fourth-best throw of 61.68m after earlier throws at 61.12m, 60.40m, and 59.97m, beating compatriot Daniel Mungai in 55.67 and South Rift's Gideon Kiprotich in 54.81.
"When Yego won a world title at the Beijing World Athletics Championships, I became interested in javelin. When I was selected for Team Kenya, I was ecstatic about the prospect of representing my country at an international level. I am convinced that I can beat the rest of the globe and place first on the podium in the javelin finals "he stated.
Lentunyei, who was born in Laikipia, aspires to become only the second Kenyan to win a global title in the javelin and potentially the first to win gold in the Olympics.