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Former world javelin champion Julius Yego will be out to defend his African Games title on the final day of the athletics programme in Rabat, Morocco tonight.

Yego, who is also an African and Commonwealth gold medallist and possesses a personal best of 92.72m, believes a good show in Rabat will help him prepare for the September 28 to October 6 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

As part of his preparation for the games, the 30-year-old managed a season’s best of 84.16m during the 2019 Athletics Kenya National Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium last Saturday.

The build-up to the games was, however, dominated by controversies ranging from low or unavailable accommodation to a reduction of slots for athletes to Morocco, forcing Yego to travel without his coach Joseph Koech Mosonik.

“It could have been nice to have my coach with me here. Just like all the other disciplines, field events athletes too need their coaches. 

Field events are so technical and without a coach who is showing you your mistakes, one cannot say he is ready at any time,” said Yego, who has recovered from a groin injury.  

While he is looking to defend his title in Rabat, Yego’s biggest target is to try and reclaim the world title next month.

“I want to continue preparing for the championships. My target is a throw of 90m plus. I know it is achievable,” he added. Meanwhile, Kenya won more medals on Wednesday night when Mercy Wanjiru and Cornelius Tuwei clinched silver in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase and men’s 800m respectively.

With World Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng opting out of the games in favour of the more lucrative IAAF Diamond League, it was going to be tough for Kenya.

Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe Demowoz easily won in 9:35.18 with Wanjiru clocking 9:37.53 ahead of another Ethiopian Weynshet Ansa (9:38.56).

Kenya also won bronze in the women’s 4x100m relay, a race that was anchored by Eunice Kadogo with Maxmilla Imali, Millicent Ndoro and Maureen Thomas the other team members. National 400m champions Mary Moraa and Alphas Kishoyian finished fourth in their respective finals.