National 100m hurdles champion Agnes Ngumbi is keen to redeem her image when she lines up in the 100m hurdles on Friday morning at the ongoing World Under 20 Athletics Championships at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
Ngumbi, who failed to make the cut in the women’s 400m hurdles on Thursday morning. Despite a personal best of 1:02.65, Ngumbi was way off the qualifying slots at fifth in a heat won by Heidi Salminen of Finland.
She said she had challenges clearing hurdles but vowed to rectify heading into Friday's action.
“I want to rectify a few mistakes that affected my qualification like hurdle clearance,” said Ngumbi.
“With such challenges, I know I am down but not out. I want to redeem my image come Friday morning,” she said. Ngumbi will be up against Turkey’s Yaren Yildrim, Marta Karksa of Lativia, Burundi’s Madina Toure, Italian Veronica Besana, Denmark’s Klara Loessl and Poland’s Marika Majewska in the 9:15 am.
In the field events, local lone ranger Zeddy Jesire will be chasing double qualification in high and long jumps.
She is expected to take on top-ranked jumpers like Marel Maes of Belgium, Idea Pieron (Italy), Zorana Rokavec (Serbia) and Federica Apostol.
Dennis Mwangi will be chasing a medal in the men’s high jump final. Maina will be the sole competitor for Kenya in this event.
On track, Africa under 18 1,500m champion Purity Chepkirui and Winnie Jemutai will be chasing slots in the final.
Competing in Heat Two, the second-highest ranked Chepkirui, with a personal best of 4:10.39, will be up against top-ranked Ethiopian Hiwot Mehari, who has 4:08.32.
Jemutai, who finished second at the national trials will be in Heat One after finishing third in her heat in 4:17.55 behind Spaniard Mireya Arnedillo and Maria Talida Sfarghiu.
Simon Kiprop and Amos Serem will be up in the 3,000m semifinals in the afternoon session. Koech, who has 8:18.43, will lead Heat One while Serem, with 8:20.26 will be in Heat Two seeking the final.
Faith Cherotich and Jackline Chepkoech will be in action in the hunt for medals in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final in the afternoon.
Friday timetable
Morning session
9:00-100m decathlon (men)
9:10- hammer throw (W)
9:15 100m hurdles (W)
9:40 long jump (M)
9:55 110m hurdles (M)
10:00 hammer throw (W)
10:13 high jump (W)
10:30 1,500m (W)
10”50 shot put (M)
10:55 long jump (W)
11:00 200m heats (w)
11:40 200m heats (M)
Afternoon session
14:20 javelin throw (M)
14:25 triple jump (W)
14:29 3,000m steeplechase (M) semifinal
15:05 100m hurdles (W)
15:17 high jump (M)
15:30 110 hurdles (M)
16:15 hammer throw (M)
16:20 800m (W) semifinal
16:35 long jump (M) final
16:40 200m (W) semifinal
17:05 200m (M) semifinal
17:35 400m decathlon (M)
18:05 3,000m steeplechase (W) final