Habari Za Wiki- 4 January, 2022

The Running News

Action Packed 2022 Awaits Us

The 2021 Athletic season was one unforgettable year marked With disruptions from the global pandemic. As we usher in 2022 we are full of hope... An action-packed year awaits all of us. Top of the list is the World Championships that are set to take place in Oregon, USA (July 15th- 24th ), and the commonwealth games which are scheduled to take place in Birmingham, UK (July 28th-August 4th).

It doesn’t end there it seems that 2022 will be filled with action after action. For the local scene, Nairobi will be the busiest of them all. Kasarani Stadium is set to host three national trials, World championships, commonwealth games, and the world under-20. The police, KDF, and prisons Athletics Championships will also be taking place in Kasarani stadium.

The city of Champions, Eldoret will not be left behind. The city is set to host the National Cross country championships on the 22nd of January. The Kenya Defense Forces championships will also take place at the Moi Air Base.

Obiri who is the reigning KDF Championship titleholder will be battling with Chepkemoi, Kamais, and Joycillin Jepkosgei who recently won the London marathon in October.  

An Action-Packed year awaits us and we’ll be keeping all of you updated with the highlights of these great races coming up.

Obiri after winning  the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) senior women cross country title at the Moi Air Base on January 29, 2021
World Cross Country champion Hellen Obiri celebrates after crossing the finish line to win the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) senior women cross country title at the Moi Air Base on January 29, 2021. Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group

World Under 20 teenage champions

Purity Chepkirui is among the 16 winners in Nairobi that will be eligible to compete in the World Athletics U-20 Championships Cali 22 on 1-6 August. Let's take a closer look at these stars.

Purity Chepkirui won the 1500m after beating Diribe Welteji from Ethiopia to win in 4:16:07.

Emanuel Wanyonyi won the 800m setting the U18 championship best.

Benson Kiplangat won the 5000m in a new PB of 13:20:37 he held off a stiff challenge from Tadesse Worku from Ethiopia who had won 3000m gold in the earlier championship.

Jackeline Chepkoech (Kenya) who won the steeplechase, Heristone Wanyonyi (Kenya) who won 10,000m race walk, Tina Clayton (Jamaica) who won the 100m race, Erwan Konate (France) who won the long Jump, Udodi Unmwozirike (Nigeria) who won the 200m race, Heidi Salminen (Finland) who won the 400m hurdles, Lestile Tebogo (Botswana) who won the men's 100m, Imabong Ise (Nigeria) who won the 400m women and Lastly Christine Mboma (Namibia) who won silver in the Olympics won the U20 200m in a championship record of 21:84 will have one more shot at it in her final year as a U20 athlete. 

We cant wait to see this Youngsters battle it out!

Purity Chepkirui after winning the 1500m

Purity Chepkirui celebrates after winning the 1500m U20 race. Photo courtesy of World Athletics. 

Non-Kenyan News

Danny Talbot confirms retirement.

Two-time Olympic 4x100m world champion Danny Talbot confirms retirement stating he felt he was “drifting away” from the sport. Talbot competed at the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics and was part of the relay team that won Gold at the World Championships in London 2017 and European Championships in 2014.