Peninah Chepchumba dashes to victory in the 2003 Kenyan Junior and Youth champs (© Omulo Okoth)
Athletics Kenya on Wednesday named a strong team that included three renowned athletes for the IAAF World Youth Championships, and African Junior Championships to be held next month.
Peninah Chepchumba, a well-known name in cross country circles who was silver medalist in the World XC 6-km women's race in Lausanne, Switzerland in March, and Fridah Domongole, fourth in Ostend in 2001 and sixth in Vilamoura the previous year, will spearhead the team to African Junior Championships to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon, between July 31 and August 3.
Augustine Choge, 4th in 8-km in Switzerland, will lead the medal hunt in Sherbrooke, Canada, at the IAAF World Youth Championships to be held between July 9 and 13.
The names were released by Joseph Tuwei, Athletics Kenya vice chairman, who chairs the youth committee.
The selection followed some exciting performances by the youths under an overcast sky at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Choge led six runners to finish inside the qualifying time (8:55.0) with a victory in the boy's 3000m race. He won in 7:57.1 with William Tarus in second place in 7:59.0. Stephen Tum was third in 8:08.1. Chepchumba won the girls 1500m in 4:19.1 from Jebiwot Kibet (4:35.0) and Jepkoech Yator (4:37.0).
Domongole destroyed the girls 5000m field, and beat her runner-up by 200 metres. She stopped the clock at 15:40.1 as Pauline Kulukiagi followed in 16:14.7 and Edith Cheplimo third in 16:25.0.
Teams:
Africa Junior Championships:
Boys:
400m - Sammy Rono, Nicholas Kiptanui; 800m - Cosmas Rono, Edwin Leting;
1500m - Nixon Polonet, Mark Kipngetich; 5000m - Bernard Chepkok, Komen
Kipchirchir; 10,000m - Nicholas Kamakia, Bernard Kiprop; 3000m SC - Nathan
Naibei, Primin Kipruto;
Girls:
1500m - Penina Chepchumba, Loyce Kiptoo; 5000m - Fridah Domongole, Pauline
Kulukiagi.
Officials:
Team Manager - Isaac Kisini; Ass TM - Kimutai Kipngetich; Coach - Peter Nyambane; Ass coach - Japheth Kemei; Cheparone - Jane Odhiambo. African Junior Championships:
Boys:
World Youth Championships
Boys:
400m - Linus Biwot, Leonard Kibet; 800m - Abraham Ngeno, Bernard Kiptanui;
1500m - Samson Kiplagat, Benson Esho; 3000m - Augustine Choge, William
Tarus; 2000m SC - Ronald Kipchumba, Justus Kipchirchir.
Girls:
400m - Milka Wamaitha; 800m - Jerotich Ruto, Katunge Mutune; 1500m - Joyce
Musungu, Cheruiyot Chepkwony; 3000m - Pascalia Chepkorir, Chebichi Yator.
Officials:
Team Manager - Paul Mutui; Coach Boniface Tiren; Cheparone Zipporah Kerich.
