Sure medals to be won by Kenyans at the World Championships

ATHLETICS Sure medals to be won by Kenyans at the World Championships

Abigael Wafula 08:26 - 13.08.2023

In this article, Pulse Sports analyses the disciplines in which athletes from Kenya are likely to win medals.

With six days to go until the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, athletes from all over the world are honing their skills with the expectation to represent their countries well and also bag hefty prize money.

Team Kenya in particular, has been burning the midnight oil at the Moi International Sports Center in Kasarani and will be hoping to rise through the ranks when they head to Budapest.

In this article, Pulse Sports analyses the disciplines in which athletes from Kenya are likely to win medals.

Starting us off is the men’s 100m where Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala will be bidding to become the first African to medal at the global event. Omanyala has run pretty good times and he might just surprise the world by finishing in the podium bracket.

He is confident about winning a gold medal despite facing strong opponents like defending champion Fred Kerley and World 200m champion Noah Lyles. Omanyala might not win the gold this year but he will surely finish in the podium bracket.

The men’s and women’s 800m races also promise Kenyans something good. Defending champion Emmanuel Korir might be having an injury setback but he has promised to fight to retain his title. He is also joined by youngsters, Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Kipng’etich Ngeno who are also primed to finish in the podium bracket at the event.

In the women’s two-lap race, all eyes will be on Mary Moraa. Moraa finished third last year but she has proven to be unbeatable in the 800m this season. She has been in impeccable form since the season started and she will definitely extend the hot streak to Budapest.

Medals are also expected to be won in the men’s and women’s 1500m races. In the women’s 1500m, triple world recorder Faith Kipyegon is expected to win a gold medal and defend her title successfully. She is joined by Nelly Chepchirchir and Purity Chepkirui who might also stun the masses to finish in the top-three bracket.

In the men’s category, 2019 World champion Timothy Cheruiyot will be itching to reclaim his title and will be accompanied by Abel Kipsang and trailblazing youngster Reynold Cheruiyot.

The women’s and men’s 5000m will also see Team Kenya reign supreme. Kipyegon will also be in action in the race and she will be looking to extend the winning streak.

She will enjoy the company of Commonwealth Games champion Beatrice Chebet who finished second during last year’s edition. Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo will also be in the mix.

In the men’s 5000m, silver medallist Jacob Krop will be looking to go one place better. Ishmael Kipkurui has also been added to the field and he will be hoping to continue the winning streak that saw him make headlines at the start of the 2023 season.

For the 10,000m, all eyes will be on Nicholas Kimeli and Daniel Simiu to deliver. With teamwork, they can reclaim the men’s title that has not been won in Kenya since 2001. The women’s race, however, remains a challenge with the rise of strong Ethiopians.

In the Steeplechase, Kenya might bag a medal in the women’s race with the return of the world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech. However, the men’s race remains a challenge. The women’s marathon might also see a Kenyan podium finisher. Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru is a favourite to medal at the event.

The 2015 World javelin champion Julius Yego has also announced his return and might medal at the global event. However, his throws have not been very convincing but he might just pull off a surprise.