Kenyan sprinters eye podium finish at CAA Asaba 2018

By Our Reporter

KENYA over the years have been made famous for their prowess in long-distance races but the East Africans are stepping into new territories; especially the sprints where they hope to hit it big at the African Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Delta State.

Kenya's 100 meters trio of African Games silver medalist Eunice Kadogo, national champion Joan Cherono and Fresha Mwangi say they are all looking forward to an exciting time at CAA Asaba 2018.

Though the likes of Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor are rightly seen as one of the favourites in the sprints, the Kenyans are working towards ruffling feathers at the African Championships which gets underway on August 1st - 5th.

Aside from finishing on the podium, the Kenyan sprinters have also highlighted their desire to improve their personal best times in Asaba.

While Kadogo, who is also the Kenya national 200m champion, and Cherono will double in 100m and 200m, Mwangi will only compete in 100m.

The trio will represent Kenya in 4 x100m where they will be joined by Millicent Ndoro.

Outside Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire and South Africa are also other formidable sprint forces the Kenyans are hoping to topple in Asaba.

"I want to reclaim my national 100m record and improve my personal best in 200m," Kadogo, 24 was quoted as saying in Kenyan news outlet The Daily Nation.

"My speed takes off from the blocks and finishing power has improved and I am good to go," she added.

At the Delegates Registration Meeting (DRM) in Asaba, an official of Team Kenya, Abraham Mutai reiterated that they are taking the Africa Senior Athletics Championships dubbed “Asaba 2018” very seriously as they are plotting to emerge the overall champion in the five-day event.

Kenya finished just behind South Africa in the 2016 edition in Durban but with the strong squad they are coming with to Asaba, they are confident they can go one step further this time.

Already, the city of Asaba is agog awaiting the arrival of Africa’s best athletes who will be competing not just for medals at the biennial championships but for places in the continent’s team to the Intercontinental Cup in Ostrava.