Venenza Chebet and her sister Linda Chepng'eno after a 1-2 finish during the 7th Kip Keino Classic/ANGWENYI GICHANAA week after dominating the Kip Keino Classic 3, 000m U20
race, sisters Venenza Chebet Masai and Linda Chepkwemoi Masai have now set
their sights on the World U20 Championships.
The Kongit Secondary School Form Three students, alongside
Grade 10 student Mercy Chepng’eno, dominated the race at the event held at
Nyayo Stadium.
Chebet clocked 9:08.98 while her younger sister came home in
9:10.10. Chepng’eno finished in 9:10.53. The trio also met the qualifying times
for the 21st World Athletics 20 Championships in Oregon, USA in
August.
Chebet, the national secondary school’s 6km cross country
champion, is confident of making her maiden trip abroad.
“It is my dream to
represent the country at an international level. However, we have one hurdle to
overcome before that, the national trials. I’m working hard to ensure that I make
the team,” said Chebet.
The national U20 trials will be held on May 22-23 at Nyayo Stadium. Invited athletes will pick bib numbers and undergo vetting on
May 21.
Chebet added: “During the Kip Keino Classic, I was so happy
my sister finished second, and my compatriot was third. We were proud to
dominate the race as students of Kingit Secondary. We hope to also continue
with the same during national trials.”
“Running at the Kip Keino Classic prepared us for big stage
events. Because some of us have never run on a tartan track and before huge
fans".
Chepng’eno is also looking forward to
the trials. “If I’m invited for the trials, I will do my best. I want to board
a place for the first time. Travelling to the US is an extra motivation for me,”
said the 16-year-old Grade 10 student.
Chepng’eno is also psyched up ahead of the trials. “The
athletes we ran with at the Kip Keino Classic will also be at the trials. I’m
ready to challenge for a place in Team Kenya for the WU20 championships. We want
to work hard so that we can help our families.”
According to Athletics Kenya Youth Committee secretary
Joseph Ilovi, AK will select a provisional team during the trials.
He said they are currently working on the list of athletes
to invite and the qualifying criteria. Invited athletes must have a passport
and an original birth certificate.
“We shall select a provisional team because we must verify
their ages before entering the team for the event. This time, we are very serious
about age cheating, which is now an issue in the country,” said Ilovi.
