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Sum, Mwangangi named Kenyans best sportspersons in 2014

Xinhua, January 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenya's world champion Eunice Sum and Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi were on Friday named Kenya's Sportswoman and Sportsman for the 2014 season in a colourful ceremony in Nairobi.

It was another day that track and field, Kenya's golden goose, ruled the roost for exemplary performances on the global, continental and regional levels.

"I am overwhelmed for the confidence and believe that you saw in me. I have to thank my coach and all the people who helped me get here," said Sum. "Winning here makes me even more inspired to work harder in 2015 and see that I surpass the levels I attained in 2014."

Sum, who is also the Commonwealth Games champion over the 800m distance, has been able to follow the footsteps of her mentor and former winner Janeth Jepkosgei.

The men contest was stiff but it was Mwangangi that won the judges' nod to be honoured as the sportsman of the year.

Mwangangi, who is still nursing a knee injury will overcome his challenge and prove the judges correct that his performances in 2014 were no fluke.

Mwangangi, who is the 1,500m gold medallist at the World Indoor Championships, also won gold in Glasgow, Commonwealth Games and in Marakesh, during the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.

"It is an honour for me to receive this trophy. I must thank all the people who helped me. The coaches and training mates. It will be another challenge for me to keep up these top performances at the global level in the next season," he said.

"I am working on my knee injury and probable will head to Vienna, Austria for further treatment. I will have an MRI done on the knee to ascertain the extent of the injury from where the doctors will advise on the next course of action, whether it requires surgery or simple physiotherapy," he said.

The injury rules him out of possible participation at the World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China.

"I will not take part in the Cross Country Championships because of the injury. I will have to be out for at least four months, the entire winter season, to recover fully since I don't want to rush back into action and probably worsen the situation," he said. Endi