Kinyamal using Athletics Kenya meets as audition for World Championships

ATHLETICS Kinyamal using Athletics Kenya meets as audition for World Championships

Abigael Wafula 10:59 - 26.02.2023

The 25-year-old bagged the 800m title in the second Athletics Kenya meet.

Two-time Commonwealth Games 800m champion Wycliffe Kinyamal hopes to make Team Kenya for the World Championships in August with a quest to improve on his previous performance.

During the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, Kinyamal fizzled out to finish a distant eighth in 1:47.07. The race was won by compatriot Emmanuel Korir as Emmanuel Wanyonyi settled for fourth place.

"My plan now is to train hard and make it to the national team. From there, we shall know how things go," he said.

Kinyamal has proved to be on form as he started the season on a high in the Athletics Kenya (AK) second meet held at the Nyayo National Stadium.

He obliterated a strong field of athletes that had attracted young and agile athletes to take top honours in the 800m final. Kinyamal clocked 1:46.51 ahead of Koitatoi Kidali who crossed the finish line in 1:47.85. Mackdonald Songok settled for third place in 1:47.99.

Kinyamal maintained the hot streak to lead his 4x4 relay team to victory.

He noted that he wants to participate in the AK meets to gauge where he stands in matters of speed and also know what he needs to change ahead of the World Championships.

Meanwhile, little-known steeplechaser Simon Koech believes winning the 3000m SC race at the AK meet is a good sign as he starts off the season.

Koech obliterated a strong field of athletes that had attracted 2021 World Under-20 champion Amos Serem to win the final in 8:29.73. Serem took second place in 8:29.73 as Leornad Bett sealed the podium in 8:31.55.

The 19-year-old said investing more time in training propelled him to victory. "Going forward, I want to keep training hard and wait for the next assignment," he said.