News22 Jul 2021


NOAH KIBET IS SET TO MAINTAIN KENYA'S DOMINANCE IN THE MEN'S 800M AT THE WORLD UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIPS

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Noah Kibet is one athlete who will be looking to continue Kenya's domination in the men's 800m as the country attempts to maintain its overall crown at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, which will be held in Nairobi from August 17-22. Although Amos Nijel of Botswana has the World Under-20 record (1:43.79), which he set in 2012 at the Barcelona tournament, Kenya has been the event's King since then, and the title has been remained in Kenya. When the championships were last held in Tampere, Finland, Solomon Lekuta was the last Kenyan athlete to win the event, clocking 1:46.35 to lead compatriot Kipng'etich Ng'eno to a 1-2 finish. Kibet, on the other hand, is optimistic about continuing his winning mindset in the postponed event, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya. "Speed, stamina, and sheer self-belief are all important, and I want to keep doing what my predecessors have done since 2014 by winning the 800m gold and ensuring it stays in Kenya," Kibet, who is now at a residential camp at the Sports View Hotel Kasarani with 44 other sportsmen, said.

"This year's event has a lot of advantages and disadvantages depending on how one looks at it," the promising 800m runner explained. "First, we will be running here in Kenya, home ground athough there will be no fans, it has a comfort, secondly, the COVID-19 pandemic interfered with the sporting calendar so there were no competitions, that's a disadvantage but we will overcome," he added. Kibet ran 1:45.45 at the national trials earlier this month, beating out Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:45.81) and Brian Kiptum (1:47.21). "I don't believe that time is an issue because we have a great team that can go even quicker. It will be all about winning the race for me "he explained. The Form Two student at Mubere Secondary School in Trans Nzoia County recalls how he was inspired after missing out on a chance to represent Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics. "I won't lie, I've been in terrific form recently, finishing third in the Olympic pre-trials, leading the regional and national competitions, and I was in contention for an Olympic ticket, but it wasn't to be," he said. Due to an injury, he was forced to withdraw from the Olympic trials for the Tokyo Olympics in the middle of last month, therefore ending his chances of making his Olympic debut. "I was brave, and I was on my way to become Kenya's youngest Olympian. Despite receiving an invitation from Athletics Kenya, I was unable to attend due to a leg issue "He revealed.

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