Mutwiri Mutuota
6 May 2008
Addis Ababa — The most maligned national team for the 16th African Athletics Championships delivered after breathtaking performances on the last day of action.
With five gold medals, three of them won on the final day of the programme, ensured that Kenya's place as a distance running force in the continent was secured as the country prepares to host the next edition (2010) in Nairobi.
Grace Wanjiru opened the golden floodgates in the early Sunday morning downpour in Addis, clocking a championship record of 1:39.50 for the 20km womenÌs continental title.
Then in the afternoon, sensational newcomers, Pamela Chelimo (1:58.7) and Haron Keitany (3:43.47) ran to 800m women's and 1,500m men's gold medals ensuring that the national anthem was belted last at Addis stadium, deserted by most after Kenya's roaring performance.
The final day also saw Isaac Songok, Gideon Gathimba and the women's 4x400m relay team scooped silver as Ruth Bosibori, Mary Njoki and Sammy Keskeny won bronze.
On Friday, David Lekuta Rudisha and Richard Mateelong opened the gold medal account with victories in the menÌs 800m and steeplechase.
With a final tally of five gold medals, five silver and six bronze medals, Kenya finished fourth overall with 16, a place below bitter rivals and hosts Ethiopia who won six gold, six silver and three bronze.
South Africa remained at the top of the medal table with 12 gold, two silver and eight bronze with Nigeria coming second (seven gold, seven silver, five bronze). The final medal tally saw Kenya slip from second place it held at the previous edition in Mauritius (2006) where the country won six gold, three silver and four bronze medals.
While the performance was encouraging, especially noting that the team in Addis was considered as 'Kenya B' credit for the showing goes to the athletes and their coaches who delivered in the face of adversity.
Competing at the packed, crazed and deranged Addis stadium where the home fans created an intimidating atmosphere that could topple even the bravest, our athletes displayed the tenacity of champions to walk away from the cauldron with their dignity intact.
The new sports minister, Professor Hellen Sambili and Athletics Kenya (AK) top brass led by their chief, Isaiah Kiplagat, were very visible as our athletes carried our flag around the Addis stadium and received medals.
But questions have to be asked on what the Government and AK really did to ensure the success of the team. No one can remember any significant input the Government accorded this team and Sambili was not even at the airport to send it off. In her defence, it can be argued the don is still coming to grips with her new role and it is too early to draw the knives out.
As for AK, organising only three days of training in atrocious conditions ahead of the event exposed the side to a thrashing that was only rescued by sheer determination after the opening final where our 10,000m runners were humiliated by Ethiopia.
"We need to go for Olympic camp early. We have seen we can beat this Ethiopians if only we prepare well," head coach Julius Kirwa said.
World junior steeplechase record holder, Ruth Bosibori, blamed ill preparations for her unsatisfactory showing saying, "We really need to step up our training ahead of such major events."
Her colleague and 5,000m runner, Veronica Nyaruai, urged, "From what we have seen, we really need to improve on our finishing."
"For Beijing, most of our top runners will be back and I am sure we will produce winners," Kirwa said.
However, on the account of the performances of the class of Addis 2008, that saved KenyaÌs face after the Valencia World Indoor and Edinburgh World Cross championships debacles, then selecting the national Olympic team will prove a big headache at the June trials.
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