Kenya confident of retaining East Africa U18/20 athletics title in Arusha

Athletics Kenya (AK) is optimistic that Team Kenya will maintain its dominance at the annual Eastern Africa U18/20 Athletics Championships set for June 5–6 in Arusha, Tanzania.

AK Youth Development Committee Secretary Joseph Ilovi, who will also serve as team leader, expressed confidence that Kenya can successfully defend the overall title they won last year in Zanzibar.

“Last year in Zanzibar, we won the overall title. We head to Tanzania once again, confident of retaining our title,” said Ilovi.



AK has selected a 20-member squad for the regional championships, with the team set to arrive in Nairobi on June 1 before departing for Tanzania on June 3.

The squad will be coached by Boniface Limo of St Francis Kimuron Secondary School and David Macharia, while Caroline Mbithi will serve as safeguarding officer.



Africa U18 steeplechase champion Emmanuel Lemiso headlines the team and will compete in the 1,500m as part of his development programme ahead of the World U20 Championships.

“We entered Lemiso in the 1,500m race to sharpen his skills and improve his endurance,” Ilovi explained.



Other standout athletes include Collins Tendera and Nancy Kibet, who are also part of Kenya’s squad for the upcoming World U20 Championships. The trio will proceed directly to the national camp after the Arusha event.

Faith Onserio of Riooga Secondary School in Nyamira returns to defend her U20 200m title, while Kibet will target successful title defences in the 400m and 800m events.



Ilovi added that the championships form a key part of long-term preparations for next year’s Africa U18/20 championships, offering athletes valuable international exposure.

“This is part of our preparations for next year’s Africa U18/20 championships. We want to give our athletes early exposure,” he said.

Other participating nations will include hosts Tanzania, Uganda, Zanzibar, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Djibouti.



Tanzania-bound

Team Kenya squad:



U20 Women:

Faith Onserio (200m), Daisy Chepng’etich (400m), Venenza Chebet (3,000m), Lillian Mapenzi (long jump); U20 Men:

Evans Gichana (200m), Robert Sang (400m), Collins Tendera (800m), Emmanuel Lemiso (1,500m), Alex Columbas (5,000m);    U18 Women:

Channel Nekesa (100m), Valerian Ombasa (400m), Winnie Jepchumba (800m), Millicent Jepkonga (1,500m), Purity Munyalo (long jump); U18 Men:

Delvin Towett (100m), Peter Mwaura (400m), David Kapaiko (800m), James Atandi (javelin).