Nyahururu athletes keen to light up third Athletics Kenya weekend meet
By David Macharia, January 26, 2024
The third Athletics Kenya weekend meeting that starts today in Nairobi will be a full house with Nyahururu-based athletes confirming their participation.
The legion from Nyahururu includes Raynald Kipkorir who will be running his specialty, 1500 metres, according to his coach Jacob Lang’at.
Kipkorir, the 2022 World Under-20 gold medalist is leading several middle-distance colleagues to the weekend meeting.
Former World Indoor Tour 800m champions, Collins Kipruto will also be competing in his specialty before catching a flight to Europe to participate in several indoor races.
Stanley Njihia who is enjoying fine form said his mission at the Nyayo Stadium weekend meeting is to run the 10,000m under 28 minutes.
“I ran 28:02 during the meeting held at Ulinzi Sports stadium and I am praying that there will be fast runners this time round so that I can run under 28 minutes,” Njihia said, adding that running under that time is possible since his personal best in the distance is 27:52 that he achieved last year during a road race in France.
Japan base Macharia Ndirangu said he will be taking part in the 5000m race at Nyayo Stadium as a build up to his upcoming half marathon race in the Far East country next month. He is the 2018 Lake Biwa marathon winner. Among the women runners from Nyahururu, all eyes will be on Mary Nyaruai, hitherto 5000m runner who will be making her debut in the short 800m distance.
She feels that she can go the two-lap race under two minutes, going by the intensive training she has been going through at the high altitude Nyahururu stadium.
Nyaruai is among girls athletes being mentored by marathoner Mary Wacera Coopers at the Nyahururu based Nala Athletics Training camp.