BY MUIGAI KIGURU AND WILLIAM NJUGUNA
Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Emily Chebet will lead a Kenyan team of eight to the 2014 edition of the Chiba Ekiden relays set for Japan on November 24.
The former world cross country champion will be the only athlete to return to the event from last year. She will be joined by former 2012 Africa cross country silver medallist Margaret Wangari and 2011 Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon champion Matthew Kisorio. Others are Henry Sang, Amos Kiprono, Julius Ndiku, Maureen Mutindi and Mercy Kibarus.
Kenya won the race last year for the third consecutive year in an improved course record of 2:03:59 and will be seeking to not only retain the title but improve on their time.
The Kenyan team will be under the leadership of William Tomno. David Atiti will be the coach while Pacifica Monda will be the chaperone.
The relay features six interchangeable legs between three male and three female.
In the first leg, a male runner competes in a 5km section before handing over the duties to a female team-mate who negotiates a similar distance.
Round three features a male runner competing in a 10km section and hands over the baton to a female who negotiates a further 5km at stage four.
Another male runner set in with a distance of 10km before a female is handed the final touches mandate over 7.2195km.Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya (AK) Meanwhile, western branch chairman Francis Afundi wants all national executive committee members supporting the removal of chairman Isaiah Kiplagat to resign en-masse this week. Afundi said the resignations will aid the cause of the 14 regional chairmen, who have broken ranks with the AK boss on matters affecting athletics in the country. Among those who sit on the executive are AK Nairobi branch chairman Barnabas Korir, Coast branch chairman Jimmi Kisalu, and AK Prisons boss Benjamin Njoga.
Afundi said they are looking to amend the constitution and make it more inclusive for all the regions. “We believe strongly that some regions have been left out of the athletics and this is why we want them included in the amended draft,” he added. He asked Kiplagat to resign honourably as the writing is already on the wall. Afundi termed the reconciliation tone adopted by the chairman as a red herring. “He is now calling for talks but I think time for talking is over and he must quit,” added Afundi. He said the ongoing impasse between the regional chairman and Kiplagat will, eventually paralyse athletics activities in the country.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke