Running News Daily

Ambitious Tauta all set for Olympic debut

The national 400m champion Kelvin Tauta will have a two-pronged attack at the Paris Olympic Games.

In addition to seeking to impress in his Olympic debut, Tauta is keen on using the Olympics as a launchpad ahead of the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.

Tauta is part of the Kenyan 4x400m mixed relay team in Paris alongside Maureen Thomas, David Sanayek, Veronica Mutua, Boniface Mweresa and Mercy Chebet.

The 23-year-old said: “We are also going to fight for a slot in the final at the Olympics. This will be enough motivation as we look forward to 2025.” 

Tauta believes his strong start to the season will fuel his ambitions.

“My season kicked off on a high. I took part in the 4x400m World Indoor Championships and although we did not secure a podium finish, I am happy we secured an African record,” he said.

In Glasgow, Tauta, alongside Wiseman Were, Zablon Ekwam and Mweresa, clocked 3:06.71, shattering Nigeria’s record (3:07.95).

The Netherlands (3:04.25), the USA (3:02.60) and Belgium (3:02.54) secured the podium.

On May 22, Tauta claimed the national crown with a time of 45.09 at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

Last month, he featured in the African Senior Championships in Douala, Cameroon, but failed to advance past the heats after placing fifth (47.49) in his preliminary round.

Tauta believes the training facilities at Kenya’s Olympic camp in Miramas, France, will be crucial for his improvement.

“The training equipment at Miramas are state-of-the-art. I am sure I will be able to improve and attain my targets,” he added.

He highlighted the rise of sprinting in Kenya and called for government support to develop the sport.

“We are improving in sprint events. Last year we had four athletes running 45 seconds, who have risen to about 10. The government needs to step in and support sprinters,” Tauta said.

Zablon Ekwam reveals specific target ahead of making Olympic Games debut

Zablon Ekwam has revealed what he is targeting specifically as he looks to make his debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Zablon Ekwam, an officer in the Kenya Army, has opened up on his specific target as he gears up for his Olympics debut at the Paris Games later this month.

Ekwam qualified for the event in the 400m at the Kip Keino Classic, clocking 44.69 to cross the finish line fourth. The qualification time for the men’s 400m at the Olympics is 45.00 and deadline for qualification was June 30.

The 26-year-old now plans to go to the Olympic Games and impress, looking to better his time. Ekwam disclosed that his main plan will be to get to the final of the 400m, this being his first time at the global showpiece.

“We are going to the Olympics with no pressure because I just want to improve my personal best time. My target is to get a personal best time in the final,” Ekwam said.

The sprinter says his body has been responding well, the reason behind the silver medal in the men’s 4x400m relay at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.

Ekwam was sick at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas but managed to bounce back stronger as he looks to make an impact at the event.

He added that every athlete always looks to compete at the Olympic Games and that’s a golden opportunity that he does not take for granted.

“Olympics is the climax of any athlete in the world or anyone who is playing any game…being at the Olympics is what everyone is fighting for. Being one of them, I’m very happy to be there,” he said.

“From Kip Keino we had very many races, we went to the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas where I fell sick and didn’t compete. When I came back, we went to the Africa Senior Championships which concluded a few days ago.

“My body was responding well that’s why we came with the silver medal…I didn’t compete in the 400m since I didn’t participate at the national trials.”

Ekwam looks to leave a mark at the Paris Olympics

Zablon Ekwam is keen to leave his mark in the 400m event at the Paris Olympics after securing his qualification time at the Kip Keino Classic last week. 

Ekwam powered to fourth place in 44.69 seconds, closely trailing Botswana’s Leungo Scotch at 44.54. Bryce Deadmon of the USA took second (44.41), while Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori clinched the title (44.10).

With the 2024 Olympic mark set at 45.00 for men and 50.95 for women, Ekwam’s performance puts him in prime position for the global showdown.

 “The Olympics is the climax of any sporting event and every athlete's dream is to make it to the global showpiece. I look forward to making my mark in Paris,” Ekwam remarked.

Ekwam highlighted the privilege of representing the country in an event where few Kenyan athletes qualify. “Representing the country in an event where there are not as many athletes qualifying is a nice feeling,” he stated.

Kenya has only secured two medals at the Olympics in the 400m, first at the 1972 Olympics in Munich, where Julius Sang clocked 44.92 to secure bronze and in 1992 in Barcelona, where the late Samson Kitur also won bronze in 44.24.

The last athlete to represent the country at the Olympics in the 400m was Emmanuel Korir at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where he was disqualified for a false start.

 Despite missing out on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Ekwam remains determined to post impressive results this time around. 

 “I have been fighting for this spot for four years. I missed out on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics because I did not make the cut,” he stated.

He pointed out that consistent training was the key to making the Olympic team. “I went back to training consistently for three years to make the 2024 Olympics.”

Ekwam’s dedication paid off, as he recently contributed to shattering two African records with the 4x400m men’s relay team at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland in March.

He was in the company of Wiseman Were, Boniface Mweresa and Kelvin Tauta.

Looking ahead, Ekwam is also set to represent Kenya at the World Relay Championships in Nassau, Bahamas as he seeks to showcase his prowess in the 4x400m mixed relay.

He will be joined by Were, Kennedy Kimeu, Mercy Chebet, Mary Moraa and Maureen Thomas as they hunt for a top-14 finish that will secure Olympic qualification for the relay team.

Sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki confident relay teams will make cut for Budapest

Sprints coach Stephen Mwaniki believes Kenya's 4x 400m (men) and 4x400 mixed relay teams can shoot to between positions 10 and 12 in the world rankings when they compete in Gaborone, Botswana, on Thursday.

The Kenyan teams are currently placed 16th on the World Athletics rankings. The mixed relay team has a time of 3:14.64 while the men's 4x400m team boosts of a 3:02.02 mark. Both times were set at Nyayo Stadium on June 24.

The contingent in Gaborone has Wiseman Were, Bonface Mweresa, Kennedy Kimeu and Zablon Ekwam in the 4x400m race while the mixed relays trialists include Ekwam, Kevin Tauta, Mercy Oketch, Maureen Thomas and Millicent Ndoro.

Mwaniki said the individual athletes are the best the country has to offer over the distances and expressed confidence they will deliver in Botswana.

"These are our best athletes and we hope they will do the country proud by cementing their place at the World Championships in Hungary," said Mwaniki.

The Kenya Prisons coach said the window for qualification closes on July 30 and the Botswana event presents a good opportunity for the team.

"We have a very good opportunity to improve our time before the deadline," he said.

The top 16 teams in the world by July 30 will head to Budapest.

He added that Kenya stands a good chance of medaling in the mixed relays.

"We won a bronze medal at the World Relays in Yokohama, Japan, four years ago and I believe our chances are very good in that regard," he said.

Mwaniki added that should Kenya make it to the 4x400m and mixed relay finals in Budapest, they will have qualified for next year's Olympic Games in Paris.

"This is a big incentive for us as a federation and team. They know what's at stake and if we attain better times in Gaberone, we will work very hard to ensure we make it to the final in Budapest," he noted.

Commonwealth Games 800m champion Mary Moraa is a probable member of the mixed relay team if they make it to Budapest.

"She is a strong athlete, especially over 400, and will be an asset to the side if we do qualify," he said.

National 100m record holder Maximila Imali eyes World Athletics Championships in Budapest

National 100m record holder Maximila Imali wants to become the first woman sprinter to represent Kenya at the World Championships.

Speaking at the track and field season opener at Mumias Sports Complex in Kakamega County, where she bagged the 100m title in 11.7, Imali said she is targeting to attain 11.0 seconds qualifying time.

The Kenya Police athlete has a personal best time of 11.19 secs and faces a herculean task to improve her time ahead of the World Athletics Championships set for August 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.

During the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Imali who is coached by Perpetua Mbutu, finished fifth in the semi-finals.

To help her achieve her dream, her manager Lee-Roy Newton has lined up pre-season training in South Africa and races in Europe to help her meet the qualifying standards.

“My problem is that I ran out of gas in the last 40m in Birmingham. However, I will work on that so that I achieve my dream of representing Kenya at the World Championships,” she said.

Coach Mbutu said they are focusing on Imali’s mental strength which she says is her weak point. “I’m very confident that by the time we go for trials, she will be mentally strong,” said Mbutu.

During the two-day AK sprints, middle distance and field events build-up in Mumias, Imali beat Monica Safenia (11.9) and Eunice Kadogo (12.1) to second and third places respectively.

World Under-20 400m silver medalist Damaris Nduleve, 17,  stole the show in Mumias by clinching the women's 200 and 400m races. She also anchored her team to victory in the 4x400m relay. Nduvele leaves for specialized training in France next week.

In 200m, Nduleve finished in 24.4 seconds, beating Sharon Machoka to second place in 25.3 secs while experienced Kadogo came home third in 25.5 secs.

William Mbevi bagged the men’s 400m hurdles in 53.0 ahead of Peter Kithome (53.6) while Rono Kipkorir (55.4) came third.

Mbevi also won the 110m hurdles in 14.7 while the second place went to Kipkorir Rono in 15.0.

In the 400m, Joshua Ndombi emerged winner in 47.6 secs,  beating upcoming Gilbert Nyamao (48.0) and Elkanah Chemelil (48.3) to second and third places respectively.

Moses Wasike (10.5 secs) upset Davis Kiviasi (10.6 secs) to win the hotly contested 100 race. Hesbon Ochieng finished third in 10.8 secs.

Wasike reigned supreme again, winning the 200m race in 21.7 secs and was trailed by Zablon Ekwam (22.0 secs) and Sammy Tihel (22.2 secs).

Duncan Kengere won the men’s 800m in 1:49.2. He was followed by Haron Kemei in second place in 1:49.8 while Francis Leshoo completed the podium finish in 1:50.1.

Brian Komen clinched the men's 1,500m in 3:42:1 and was followed by Mathew Kiprop (3:45.7) in second and Robert Biwott (3:46.8) third.

After the Mumias event, the action moves to Moi Stadium in Kisumu for the first AK track and field weekend meeting on February 10- 11.