World Indoor Championships: How Much Mercy Oketch and Jacob Krop Earned After Impressive Campaign

Team Kenya has delivered mixed results so far in their campaign at the World Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland.

Athletics Kenya sent a team of six athletes led by national record holders Mercy Oketch and Brian Tinega. Rosemary Longisa, Noah Kibet, Gladys Chepng’etich, Festus Lagat, Susan Ejore, and Jacob Krop.

Mercy Oketch and Brian Tinega both made the final of the 400m, with the former finishing fifth in a new national record time of 51.25 seconds. Brian Tinega finished a distant eighth in 46.62 seconds.

In the women’s 800m, both Rosemary Longisa and Gladys Chepng’etich did not proceed to the semifinal. Rosemary Longisa clocked a personal best time of 2:03.48 to finish fifth in her heat. Gladys Chepng’etich finished fifth in her heat, crossing the finish line in 2:02.23.

On his part, Festus Lagat also failed to make the final of the 1500m, finishing seventh in a time of 3:40.26 in his heat. Susan Ejore will be competing in the women’s 1500m final.

Jacob Krop, a former world 5000m silver medallist, finished third in the men’s 3000m final that was won by Great Britain’s Josh Kerr.

According to World Athletics, the top six finishers in both the individual and team sports at the World Indoor Championships will earn prize money.

The winners of each event will walk away with US$40,000, with those who finish second, third and fourth earning US$20,000, US$10,000 and US$8000. The athletes who finish fifth and sixth will earn US$6000 and US$4000.

This means that Mercy Oketch will walk away with a potential US$6000 (Ksh 775,965), with Jacob Krop walking away with US$8000 (Ksh 1,034,620).

In the relay teams, the first country to cross the finish line will earn US$40,000, with those that finish second and third earning US$20,000 and US$10,000. The fourth, fifth and sixth teams will pocket US$8000, US$6000 and US$4000.