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Amos Abuga @Amokc1oo1

Youngster Noah Kibet is fully aware of what is at stake when the country stages the World Athletics Under-20 Championships next month.

The 800m runner is one of the 44 athletes currently in residential camp at the Sports View Hotel in Kasarani ahead of the August 17-22 Championships slatted for the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

He will be seeking to succeed Solomon Lekuta who secured Kenya her third consecutive gold medal in the men’s 800m at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships, the last time the event was held.

“Running 800m requires speed, stamina and sheer sense of self -belief, I want to continue from where Lekuta left when the championships are held at Kasarani next month,”a self assured Kibet declared.

In the previous event held in Tampere, Finland in 2018, Lekuta won in 1:46.35 with Ngeno Kipngetich finishing second in 1:46.45 to seal Kenya’s third successive one-two in the event.

“There is a lot of history here going by previous events. 

I am working hard to mantain the status quo,” said the athlete who has been running 1:45 in most races.

Early in the month during the national trials, Kibet clocked 1:45.45, ahead of Emmanuel Wanyonyi (1:45.81) and Brian Kiptum (1:47.21). 

“I think time is not an issue because we have a strong side that can go even faster. For me it will be about winning the race,” he added.

The Form Two student at Mubere Secondary School in Trans Nzoia County recalls how missing on an opportunity to represent Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics is spurring him.

“I will not lie,I have been in some good form lately, the Olympic pre trials where I finished third, topping during the regional and national events, I was in contention for an Olympic ticket but that was not to be,” he said.