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Kenyan leader encourages team to conquer youth athletics worlds

Xinhua, July 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto challenged Kenya's team to emulate their senior colleagues and conquer the World Youth Athletics Championships, which starts Wednesday in Cali, Colombia.

Ruto, who was at a stadium in Nairobi to hand over the national flag to the team, said the event is crucial for the team to set the highest ever mark because they need to be at the top when they will be receiving the championships flag for Nairobi to host the next edition in 2017.

"You have been chosen out of many, and it is your merit that made you to be picked. Now go and do us proud and win medals," he said.

Kenya team of 26 athletes left Saturday for Cali. Kenya has dominated the World Youth Championships since its inaugural competition in Bydgoszcz, Poland, back in 1999. The United States, Russia, Jamaica and Germany have also been strong contenders for the event.

The World Youth Championships is only eligible to track and field events for competitors who are 17 or younger. It is the elementary competition of the IAAF, and Cali will be the ninth edition.

Kenya won the right to host the 2017 events after Buenos Aires, Argentina, pulled out of the bidding process. Kenyan stars World 5,000m silver medalists, a winner at the World Youth, and Jairus Birech, a steeplechaser, were the country's ambassadorS in the bidding process. Endit