Musai, Lentunyei credit Rio silver medalist Yego for love of javelin

As they prepare for the upcoming World Under 20 Championship, Africa Under 18 javelin silver medalist Martha Nthanze Musai and East Africa School Games Champion Wilson Lentunyei are looking to 2016 Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego for inspiration. 

Yego went into history books when he won silver in the javelin at the Rio games despite not having a coach but relying on tutorial videos from YouTube. 

Things have not panned out well at the Tokyo Olympics for Yego who finished 28th in the preliminary round and failed to progress to the next round. 

However, Musai and Lentunyei still consider the 2015 World Champion as one of a kind and want to follow in his footsteps. 

“I can see a bright future in javelin though the competition will be tough. I hope I will also be an Olympics medalist and a world champion like my hero Julius Yego,” Musai said. 

On his part, the Laikipia-born Lentunyei wants to become the second-ever Kenyan to win a world title in the javelin and possibly the first to strike gold at the Olympics. 

"I was drawn to javelin when Yego won a world title during the Beijing World Athletics Championships. When I made it to team Kenya, I was so excited to get an opportunity to represent my county at an international level. I am confident I can beat the world and take the top podium place during the javelin finals," he said. 

The two, who are currently training at Moi Stadium, Kasarani, say they are determined to bring glory to Kenya at the same venue on August 17-22 when thousands of athletes from other countries congregate for the biennial championship. 

Musai, who claimed the first runners-up position with a throw of 48.96m during the 2019 African U18 Championship, is banking on this experience to excel over other competitors at the under 20 level. 

"I started competing in the javelin while I was in class eight and proceeded to the national level, advancing to that level motivated me and started taking my training seriously. When I joined Ngoleni Girls High school, I continued with my training and improved which led me to win a gold medal during Africa Under 18 Championship in Algeria. I believe that I have the experience to compete and get a podium place," she said. 

On his part, Lentunyei, who has competed in East Africa thrice, is polishing his runway take off, angle of throwing his javelin, among other techniques.