BY MUIGAI KIGURU
The 2011 All Africa Games bronze medallist Sylvia Chesebe is relishing a second bite at the cherry when she represents the country at the IAAF World Relays for the second time in Nassau, Bahamas next month.
Chesebe was in the Kenyan team which won silver in Bahamas and believes they are well prepared to go a step higher and bag the title. “I am in top shape and the rest of team is looking good too going by the training we have had,” said Chesebe.
“Last year, the team was equally good but since it was the first time and we had not trained as much, we produced a silver medal performance.”
“Having been there, I have become an inspiration to the rest of the team, who are relatively new.”
“I don’t feel under pressure at all since we have bonded well with the rest,” added Chesebe who is in the medley relay team alongside Selah Jepleting, Virginia Nyambura, Joy Sakari and Francisca Koki.
“I think the buck stops with the coach whemn it comes to arranging the team depending on our strengths. I mean the coach should be able to figure out who should start and who should finish. Only the USA could prove a challenge to us,” she opined.
Coach Stephen Mwaniki said: “It is exactly one week since we came to camp and we are all set since the athletes are responding well to training. We have minimal injuries.”
“Everything is going on well as far as training is concerned and I have been able to achieve my targets,” added an elated Mwaniki.
“In relays, you must ensure athletes develop a close bond at all levels. We are working on synchronising the baton handling since what matters is the speed at which it is handed over, coupled with the individual athletes’ speed.”
He said their focus is to ensure that all our teams make it to the finals since this adds up to the qualification for the World Championships in China and eventually the Olympic Games in Brazil next year.
“The most important thing is to be in the final since, according to the IAAF, the top eight teams will qualify for the World Championships which is our main focus,” added Mwaniki.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke