Wanyonyi eyes world medal in Antalya

Having missed out on the podium with a fourth place finish in the 2022 World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, national U20 record holder Heristone Wanyonyi is keen to make amends in this year’s competition.

The 20-year-old headlines Team Kenya to this year’s global race walking championship slated for Antalya, Turkey on 21 April.

A team of nine athletes is set to depart on 18 April for the competition, making it a second appearance for Kenya after their debut in 2022 where national champion Samuel Gathimba won an individual bronze in the men’s 20km race.

Gathimba eyeing another world medal in Antalya

With Gathimba competing in the relay this time, Wanyonyi says he is hoping to pick up from where his senior left and not only improve on his performance from Muscat in 2022 but also on the medal Kenya bags in the race.

“I have had a nagging injury that threatened my participation but I am happy to have recovered in time to make the team. I finished fifth during the Africa Games trials at Nyayo in 45:33 minutes while not fully fit so I am confident of faster times now that I am fully back,” Wanyonyi, who clocked 45:18 in Muscat for fourth place, told Mozzart Sport adding that he is sharpening his speed after getting his endurance right for the challenge ahead.

Athletics Kenya is expected to field a team of nine that also includes Stephen Ndangiri, Peter Theuri, Eric Maugo, Samuel Gathimba, Dominic Ndigiti, Margret Gati, Silvia Jerono and Emily Ngii.

Races in Antalya include senior 20km races and U20 10km events. It also features the marathon race walk mixed relay for the first time. Teams of one man and one woman will complete the marathon distance in legs of 12.195km (man), 10km (woman), 10km (man) and 10km (woman).

The first 22 teams to finish in Antalya will automatically qualify for the marathon race walk mixed relay at the Olympics in Paris. Up to five of those first 22 teams can be a second team from the same country.

“Having been on that platform before, I am well aware of how competitive it will get. We go up against tactically better athletes but as Kenyans we have the endurance to go all the way if we get the rest right and avoid penalties,” Wanyonyi offered, adding that teamwork will also be key so they can pick a team medal in the individual races as well.

Meanwhile, his coach Gabriel Otwane is confident his athlete has gained enough experience since his triumphant U20 exploits for Kenya’s first gold in the discipline in a world event and that will propel him to victory.

“We have been working on both speed and endurance and he is in a good place and I expect him to perform well,” Otwane said.

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