Reigning World Indoor 3000metres champion Helen Obiri will lead an eight member Kenya team at this year’s world indoor Championship to be held in Sopot, Poland starting.
Kenya will be looking to better her performance at the last edition in 2012 in Turkey where she won two gold medals, a silver and a bronze to finish fourth on the medal standings.
Obiri stunned Meseret Defar to win gold in Istanbul two years ago and will hope for another medal this weekend. She will have veteran Viola Kibiwott for company in her specialty race while Irene Jelagat will be a lone ranger in the women’s 1500 metres race.
The men’s work is cut out for them this weekend as they seek a first gold medal since 2006.
Augustine Choge will be making his third appearance at the World Indoors and hoping to improve on his second place finish in the 3000metres from two years ago. Caleb Mwangangi will make his debut in the same distance.
In the 1500 metres Silas Kiplagat gets another chance to win only his second major title. The confident 24 year old was sixth in the final two years ago and will hope to improve on his performance in finals after only one podium finish in four previous finals.
He will have Bethwell Birgen for company with the 25 year old looking to win his first ever medal for Kenya. Jeremiah Mutai will be a lone ranger in the 800 metres race as Kenyan men seek their first gold medal in the distance since Wilfred Bungei eight years ago.
Competition will again emanate from Ethiopia with Mohammed Amman (800m) and red-hot Genzebe Dibaba (3000m) who has set three world indoor records this year as well as Yenew Alamirew and Dejen Gebremeskel in the 3000metres.
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