Kenyan athlete Simon Koech, the reigning national champion in the 3,000m steeplechase, is determined to secure his qualification for the World Athletics Championships.

After winning the trials last weekend, Koech, the former World Under-20 bronze medallist, will now compete in the upcoming race in Monaco on Friday, July 21. Koech aims to achieve the required time of 8:15.00, which will grant him a spot in Budapest.

During the athletics trials held at the Nyayo National Stadium, the speedster displayed remarkable form, finishing ahead of fellow Kenyan athletes Abraham Kibiwott and Leonard Bett with a season-best time of 8:22.55. This performance came after his initial victory in the national championship, where he clocked 8:26.00 on June 10.

With a personal best of 8:18.43 achieved in 2021, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) athlete is hopeful that the strong competition in Monaco, including the likes of Soufiane El Bakkali, Kibiwott, and Getnet Wale, will propel him to meet the qualification mark.

Eager to represent his country at the global showpiece scheduled to take place from August 19 to 27, the athlete expressed confidence in his ability to challenge the current status quo and vie for a podium finish.

He offered: “It is an honour to get this opportunity to represent the country at the senior level. I am confident the team selected will challenge the current status quo. This season I elected to race in fewer events as I felt the need to work on my craft, especially crossing the barriers before lining up for any competition and it worked well for me as I have won the last two events.”

In the event that Koech fails to meet the qualifying time before the closure of the qualification period on July 30, he can still rely on the World Ranking quota system to secure his place in Team Kenya. It remains uncertain whether Athletics Kenya (AK) will replace athletes who have secured a spot in the team but have not yet achieved the qualification time.

Ferguson Rotich and Naomi Korir, who have secured their places in the 800m event, are among the athletes who have yet to meet the qualification standard. Additionally, the men’s 4x400m relay team is hopeful that their high ranking on the top list will grant them an opportunity to compete.

As Koech continues his pursuit of qualification, he remains determined and honoured to represent his country on the global stage. With his focused approach and recent successes, he aims to challenge established athletes and make his mark in Budapest.