By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kenya’s 10-member squad from the World Indoor Championships touched down in the country yesterday after a spirited campaign in Nanjing, China.
The contingent was led by team manager Abdullahi Omar, alongside coaches Vincent Mumo and 2008 Olympic 800m silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei. Team physio Mathew Kipchumba and safeguarding officer Esther Kavaya also accompanied the squad.
800m specialist Collins Kipruto captained the team, which featured Olympians Vivian Chebet and Lilian Odira (both 800m) and Susan Ejore (1,500m). The line-up also included 2022 World Indoor 800m silver medalists Noah Kibet and Alex Ngeno (800m), Dorcas Ewoi (1,500m), Festus Lagat (1,500m), Purity Gitonga (3,000m) and Cornelius Kemboi (3,000m).
While the team did not secure any medals, Athletics Kenya (AK) lauded their valiant effort on the global stage. Speaking at Riadha House on Tuesday as AK welcomed the athletes back, AK chair for youth development Barnaba Korir praised the squad for their resilience. “This morning, we welcomed the team from China at Riadha house. We appreciate their performance, whenever an athlete goes out to compete their hope is always to do well and especially to win,” Korir said. Despite not coming back home with medals, Korir highlighted that the team represented the country valiantly. “They may not have won but they represented the country very well and we are proud of their performance,” he added.
Team manager Omar emphasized that competing at the World Indoors is always a challenge for Kenya, given the country’s limited exposure to indoor racing. “I think the performance was wonderful, that’s not what we expected when we left the country. Kenya most of the time does not compete indoors so the performance was very commendable,” he said.
Coach Mumo echoed Omar’s sentiments, highlighting the lack of proper indoor training facilities as a major hurdle. “We went to China to win, but because this is a championship every country was there to win. So in a championship, you either win or lose. Our performance was good, the athletes tried their best. The only challenge we faced was the Indoor facilities which Kenya does not have,” he said.
Despite the challenges, captain Kipruto commended his teammates for giving their all. “The competition was good. We did our best according to our abilities,” he noted.
