Kenya's under-20 Para-athletics discus coach Caleb Odiyo believes having an African champion among his contingent escalates the chances of Kenya bagging a medal at the Commonwealth Youth Games.
The week-long quadrennial global championships are set for August 4- 11 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
Nicholas Kalonzo, who won gold in discus at the Africa Under-18 Championships in Ndola, Zambia in May, will lead Team Kenya in its quest for medals.
"I have an African champion and a bronze medalist in the team. I have urged them to use their performances at the Africa U-18 championships as a motivation to do better and I am confident they will deliver," offered Odiyo.
Kalonzo, who has a PB of 34 metres will have the company of Titus Maundu, the bronze medalist at the Africa U-18 Championships and who boasts of a 23-metre PB.
Michelle Chepngetich will represent Kenya in the sitting discus as she makes her discuss career debut.
Odiyo, a former discus thrower-turned-coach, said the team is not wary of the competition and is determined to impress. He also added that his charges will raise the Kenyan flag high despite this being the first championship for the three.
"This will be the first international tournament for them but they are not afraid to compete. What is in their mind is just ensuring they give their best and compete well. I don't see them wary of facing others, they are ready mentally and that is the best motive," said Odiyo.
He noted that he has prepared the team well ready for any challenge. "We have had two weeks of training and I have noticed a massive improvement. In training, they challenge each other and that makes them better. Kalonzo and Maundu like competing against each other and this will push them."
Odiyo pointed out there has been a massive improvement in training from the three and that is proof of their determination to win.
According to the coach, Kalonzo has moved from 25m to 34m, Maundu from 15m to 24m while Chepngetich has raised her PB from 10m to 15m within two weeks. Kalonzo, 17, is optimistic of making it to podium positions but still wants more.
"My target is to be on the podium. But still, I will try my best and throw the furthest for the gold if things go well. I will also encourage my team-mate to try his best so that he too can be on the podium."
