Why Odira will be among stars to watch at World Indoor show

STEPHEN RUTTO, ELDORET

For Kenya, last year’s World Indoor Championships in Glasgow did not live up to the expectations, gauging from the results.

The country ranked 27th in the medal table, with only one medal – a bronze from steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech who represented Kenya in 3000m, saved the African athletics powerhouse blushes in Glasgow, UK.

From Friday, when the 2025 World Indoor Championships kick off in Nanjing, China, 10 of the country’s athletes will be doing duty for Kenya in three different events; 800m, 1500m and 3000m, both men and women.

“Athletics Kenya selected 10 athletes (five men and five women) to represent the country at the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing from March 21-23,” Athletics Kenya said as it announced the squad on March 13.

A peep into the Kenyan cast for the Nanjing assignment shows a blend of experienced internationals and track stars looking to make a name ahead of the biggest extravaganza in 2025; the World Championships.

With Chepkoech, the only medallist in Glasgow not featuring in the 2025 squad, the 2024 Prievidza 10km road runner-up Purity Gitonga is leading the charge in the women’s 3000m indoor race.

Gitonga will be looking to unleash her previous mountain running endurance in the battle for the 3000m crown.

Cornelius Kemboi, the African 5000m bronze medallist, is carrying on his shoulders the gigantic hopes of an expectant Kenya in the men’s 3000m contest.

To inject experience in the team to Nanjing, Kenya named the 2022 World Indoor 800m silver medalist Noah Kibet.

Kibet is among a number of foreign-based stars in the Kenyan battalion. At only 20 years, Kibet produced impressive results in the indoor tours as well as in the USA.

Kibet was only 17 years old in 2022 when he bagged a silver medal in the four-lap run.

Alongside Kibet in the battle for the 800m title is African Games 800m champion Alex Ng’eno Kipng’etich.

In the women’s 800m, African silver medalist Lilian Odira will be the woman to watch.

Vivian Chebet, who placed fourth in the 800m at last year’s edition in Glasgow, also features prominently on team Kenya.

Also in the mix are US-based athletics big shots among them Susan Ejore and Dorcas Ewoi and Festus Lagat, who will all be flying the Kenyan colors in the 1500m race.

Lagat will be seeking to prove a point after his unsuccessful Olympic bid during the national trials.