The Nation (Nairobi)
Chris Musumba
21 August 2007
Nairobi — Kenya's first batch of 24 athletes and six officials departed yesterday evening with high expectation of doing well at this year's World Athletics Championships which start on Saturday in Osaka, Japan.
The second group of six athletes and five officials is expected to jet out today afternoon.
Overall team captain, Wilfred Bungei, who is also the World Indoor 800m champion, said Kenya's prospects at the championships were high and promised a much better performance this time round.
Despite having some of the best runners, Kenya clinched just clinched the single gold medal at the last championships held in Helsinki, Finland, in 2005 through Benjamin Limo on the last day of the competition in 5,000 metres.
Tactical competition
"We have been concentrating on our training for the last three weeks at Kasarani and everyone is geared up for the championships," Bungei said.
"It will be a tactical competition but we are ready to charge as a team," said the skipper.
However, the difference in weather conditions is expected to take its toll on the athletes although Bungei believes the four-day rest and training at the venue after their arrival will be enough for them to acclimatise.
He said that the coaches' idea for the team to train away from the chilly Kasarani camp was received positively and he was sure all the athletes would be in great form to tackle their rivals when the starters' gun is fired.
"Kenya has a very good team irrespective of the times registered by the individual athletes from other competing nations.
"However, the championships are a very different competition and there is no need to underrate us because it will be difficult for everyone," he said.
Bungei, who will be running in his 800m speciality, said it was not right to predict the number or colour of the medals the Kenya team is likely to win but said he would be focusing on his own race while knowing that the other athletes representing the country are the best available at the moment.
Commonwealth 800 metres champion, Janeth Jepkosgei, who is also the deputy captain, said she is ready for her biggest challenge after ruling at both the Africa Championships and the Commonwealth Games.
She, however, played down the rivalry expected from Cuban, Russian and Mozambican athletes saying they need not worry her because she has done all that is required to secure her glory.
"This is a big competition and everyone in it is out to wrestle the best title.
"It is important to focus on our strength and not weakness.
"How I run will be the most important thing. I have no reason to put pressure on myself with the my rivals performance all I need is to think about myself," she said.
Team manager Jonathan Kosgei was upbeat about discipline among the senior athletes.
He said unlike previous competitions, the coaches have taken a new approach to training and created a good rapport with the athletes which he believes will be important in steering Kenya to success on the Osaka track.
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