L. MathekaOREGON22: Gathimba in focus as Kenya chase Walking medals on opening day
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 15.07.22. | 14:30
The championship runs from Friday, 15 to Sunday 24 July.
Three-time African walking race men’s champion Samuel Gathimba and Africa Games 2019 gold medalist in the women’s category Emily Ngii open action for Team Kenya at the World Athletics Championship on Friday night.
The two are hoping to make it a perfect start for the count with Gathimba holding the more realistic chance at medaling despite the tough competition expected.
Few hours until the start of the first World Athletics Championships on U.S. soil (July 15–24).
— BARNABA KORIR OFFICIAL (@KorirOfficial) July 15, 2022
Can African champions Emily Ngii and Samuel Gathimba add a global title? They will compete in the 20km race walk final.
We wish our athletes success#oregon22@athletics_kenya pic.twitter.com/e0MV7EtGfc
Gathimba made history earlier this year by becoming the first Kenyan race walker to reach a podium at a senior global event, finishing third at the World Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat.
The Kenya Prisons athlete is fresh from winning his third consecutive African title in this discipline and carries that form as he looks to make an impact in Oregon against one of the toughest fields.
Gathimba renews rivalry with defending champion Toshikazu Yamanishi who won gold in Musacat, in what has been his only race this year as well as another Japanese ace Koki Ikeda, a Tokyo Olympics silver medalist who came second in Muscat.
The 20km race will be held on a one-kilometer looped course starting and finishing on Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard in front of Autzen Stadium, a short hop over the river from Hayward Field.
The first medals will be won in the stadium and on the roads on the very first day of competition. Can African champions Emily Ngii and Samuel Gathimba add a global title? They will compete in the 20km race walk final. pic.twitter.com/jODb44K375
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) July 15, 2022
Ikeda, has the fastest season’s best of all the entrants, thanks to his 1:18:53. A frequent podium finisher at major events, Ikeda will be keen to atone for his sixth-place finish in Doha three years ago.
Also, in the running for a medal is Eiki Takahashi, one of the fastest men in history at this distance and has competed at the past three World Championships and two Olympic Games. The 29-year-old from Japan has yet to finish inside the top 10 at a global championship, but is more than capable of doing so.
Ngii has her work cut out as women will be competing for the first gold medal decided in Oregon. Defending champion Liu Hong of China will have further historical significance within reach.
Should she retain her title, Liu will become the first four-time world champion in a race-walking event. Ironically, her three Chinese teammates, one of whom is there benefit of Liu’s wild card entry, could be the biggest threats.
Ma Zhenxia won the 20km in Muscat, Qieyang Shijie has enjoyed three victories in Gold-level races on the World Race Walking Tour, and 20-year-old Mu Quanming is a rapid developer.
Peru’s Kimberly Garcia, Mexico’s Alegna Gonzalez and Japan’s Nanako Fujii were third, fourth and fifth in Muscat, Maria Perez of Spain fourth in the Olympic 20km and Australia’s Jemima Montag was sixth at the Olympics.
Additional information by World Athletics
