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Kenya: Athletics - Muyanga Puts Show On the Road
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The Nation (Nairobi)
9 July 2008
Posted to the web 9 July 2008
Chris Musumba
Bydgoszcz, Poland
Kenya's campaign to retain the World Junior Championship title started on a winning note at the Zdzislaw Krzyszkowiak Stadium here with all the athletes entered in the morning session qualifying to the next round.
Africa 3,000m steeplechase champion, Elizabeth Mueni, and Japan-based Christine Kambua Muyanga, who is also the World Youth Championship silver medallist, sent out strong signals of their intentions as they easily won in their respective semi-finals.
Muyanga won in the second heat, which was the fastest, clocking nine minutes, 59.88 seconds.
Mueni, who is making her second appearance abroad on national duty, showed no fear as she held on behind the leading pack for the better part of her race before producing a strong sprint in the final water jump leaving her rivals gasping for breath in an attempt to close her down.
She won in 10:07.47. Both Kenyans ran without shoes. Now the duo have set their sights on the silverware and will be mapping out the strategy to thwart a strong Ethiopian onslaught.
"I came here knowing that it will be hard. But I took caution and opted to run in the outside lane throughout the race because I feared the opponents will spike me. But in the final, I will not keep on the outside lane any more," said Mueni.
Ethiopia's Korahubish Itaa run a personal best time of 10:08.15 to finish second ahead of Latvian Polina Jelizarova 10:10.39 while Aleksandra Kudryashova of Russia settled for the fourth slot in 10:11.82.
Jelizarova was the race favourite having clocked the fastest time this season of 9:54.94, but she could not withstand the challenge from the Africans, as she saved her energy to fight in the finals tomorrow.
"Jelizarova had the best time and I knew I could beat her. Now it is the gold or silver if my compatriot beat me. Nothing short of that," said Mueni.
Muyanga, however, looked to struggle in the first two laps as the Europeans started with a fast pace.
However, she held on to claim to the win. She beat Ethiopia's Halima Hassen who clocked 10:00.27 (personal best time) to the second slot while Sandra Eriksson of Finland was third in 10:17.92 ahead of Mariya Shatalova (Ukraine) 10:19.20 also a personal best.
All the top four finishers got automatic qualification to the final and will be joined by the four fastest runners - Gulcan Mingir (Turkey) 10:15.67, Lucie Sekanova (Czech Republic) 10:22.18, Italian Valeria Roffino (10:23.72) and Jessica Furlan of Canada (10:23.88).
The main challenge
It was a great relief for Sylvester Kirwa in the 400m race as he finishing second in his fifth heat, clocking 47.34 behind Brian Gregan of Ireland 47.32 with Ismail Al-Sabani of South Africa 47.39 taking the third slot while fourth placed Petr Vanek (47.78) of Czech Republic will join them in the finals tomorrow as one of the fastest losers.
"It is a relief to get through this hurdle. Now the main challenge is to show my worth in the finals. I will try my level best to get a medal," he said.
Coach Boniface Tiren, who is in charge of the steeplechase, was confident Kenya will triumph in the finals. He said that all that is required is to improve on Kambua's jumping technique which has cost her precious time.
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"We are working on that. But it is up to her to get that fighting spirit. She has the best sprint and it will be difficult between her and Mueni to see who will win. Ethiopia is the only opposition and it will all depend on the final three laps," said Tiren.
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