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Kenyan team set to create new records in world junior championships in Poland

Xinhua, June 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenyan team, aim to set new records, will send eight medalists to the IAAF World U20 Championships, which will be held from July 19 to 24 in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

World Youth 800m champion Willy Tarbei, who leads the team, said they are not focusing on the past performance but on how to create new records and improve the country' s performance.

"We know making the Kenyan team is hard. It is almost making it through to the finals at the championships. But we want to win clean and in fast time," he said on Friday in Nairobi.

Tarbei and Kipyegon Bett, the duo that took gold and silver respectively in Cali last year in the 800m race, but whose positions were reversed at the recent Kenyan Junior Championships with Bett taking victory, will get another chance to prove their prowess.

World youth steeplechase champions Vincent Kipyegon and Celliphine Chespol and world youth 1500m champion Kumari Taki have all been selected in their specialist events.

Head coach Robert Ngiserei gave the athletes three days off to return home and resume residential camp on Sunday.

"It is a big assignment ahead of us and I have given those in school time to seek official leave and focus on the work ahead. It is a strong team and polishing up their skills will not be hard, but other teams will also be coming in the championship with intent to topple us," he said Friday in Nairobi.

World Youth champion and African Youth 1500m record holder Kumari Taki and Edwin Kiptoo will represent the country in men' s metric mile race. Following are the list of Kenyan team of the IAAF World U20 Championships:

Men -- Moffat Ngari (200m), Jeffrey Kiprotich, Edwin Ngeeti (400m), Nicholas Chirchir (400m hurdles), Kipyegon Bett, Willy Tarbei (800m), Kumari Taki, Edwin Kiptoo (1,500m), Amos Kirui, Vincent Kipyegon (3,000m SC), Wesley Ladema, Moses Koech (5,000), Rodgers Chumo, Ronald Kirui (10,000m).

Women -- Betty Sigei Chepkemoi, Josphine Chelangat (800m), Winfred Mbithe, Joyline Cherotich (1,500m), Sandrafelis Chebet, Sheila Chelangat (3,000m), Celliphine Chespol, Betty Chepkemoi (3,000 SC), Emmaculate Chepkirui, Catherine Syokau (5,000m). Endit