NAIROBI, Kenya, March 13 – Africa 20km race walk bronze medalist Sylvia Kemboi says the next step in her career is to compete at the World Championships, specifically this year’s edition in Budapest, Hungary.
The 34-year-old made her international debut for the country at last year’s Senior Africa Athletics Championships in Reduit, Mauritius where she timed 1:39:40 to clinch bronze in the women’s 20km walk.
Kemboi says she was buoyed by her first-ever medal at the international level and is subsequently working hard towards making her second-ever appearance in Team Kenya colours in the Eastern European country come August.
“I have been working hard towards meeting the qualifying time for the World Championships. Last year, was the first time for me at an international competition (Africa Championships) and I really enjoyed it. I competed at the AK Track and Field Weekend Meeting in Nyayo and finished second and afterwards won the same race at the third leg in Thika so all is working out well,” Kemboi said.
The national champion took full advantage of the absence of Emily Ngii – who won the women’s race a fortnight ago at Nyayo Stadium – by clocking 52:41.1 to win the women’s 20km walk at Thika Stadium.
Kemboi admitted that it was a pity that the 2019 African Games 20km race walk champion was not there to spice up the contest.
“I thought that she would be available to compete in Thika but that was not the case and it is very unfortunate. Had she been there, maybe we would have seen fast times. However, when you don’t have someone as strong as her to push you, it becomes very difficult to post fast times because there is some level of laxity that gets into you,” she said.
Kemboi added: “It is of course a wonderful feeling to emerge victorious. I had prepared myself to come and compete in Thika. The only problem was the dusty course and the hot weather.”
The next edition of the weekend meeting will be held next month in Mombasa.
