Kenya's sole representative in the women's 400m at the World Under-20 Championship, Sylvia Chelangat, believes her chances of a podium finish have increased after improving on the technical aspects of the race.
The 17-year-old admits she has struggled to cut out basic mistakes in her running, which would have been costly in a competition setting.
"I didn’t know much about sprinting, for example how to set my blocks, I mostly used someone else's settings and how to use the curves to my advantage. I used to run outside near my opponent and that would easily make me infringe on their lanes, a mistake that can be costly during competition,” Chelangat said.
The Nakuru-born sprinter was initially a footballer but found love in athletics, thanks to her school teacher, Salome Mutai.
On the cusp of an international debut, Chelangat is grateful for bucking the trend within her family by becoming the first one to carve a career in running.
"I loved watching athletics as a young girl to see how the athletes were competing. From there, I started to run doing some competition with other children in the village when we were playing," the aspiring farmer said.
She was one of the standouts at July's national trials for the World Under 20, competing in the 400m, 200m, and the relays.
However, Chelangat believes her future lies in the 800m and is planning on emulating her mentor and tutor, former Olympics 800m silver medalist Janeth Jepkosgei, by transitioning into the two-lap race next year.
"When Janeth used to run, I was quite young and didn’t know much about athletics. Now she is my mentor and a coach. I would like to compete in the 800m like her. She started with the 400m," she said.
Inspired by Rudisha
In the men's division, Elkanah Kiprotich and Kennedy Kimeu will be flying the country's flag in the 400m.
Just like Chelangat, the duo hopes to transition to 800m in the senior ranks, using newly crowned Olympic champion Emmanuel Korir as their template for success.
"In future maybe I will advance in the 800m or follow in the footsteps of USA-based Emmanuel Korir and double up in the 400m and in the 800m,”Kiprotich said.
He recalls the first time he fell in love with athletics thanks to men's 800m world record holder David Rudisha.
"A television advertisement that featured David Rudisha is what attracted my attention to athletics, after that I started reading more about athletics in newspapers. That is when I decided to try out running while I was still in primary school. I am happy that I made such a decision," he said.
The two are under the keen eye of sprints coach Andrew Maritim who has been working hard to ensure that the athletes' starting techniques, setting of blocks, and speedwork are up there with the best.
"They have been cooperative and quick to learn. I have tried my level best to give them a chance to compete for the podium places. We have been working on speed work, the reaction, and acceleration before they even learn how they are supposed to set their blocks," Maritim said.
