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The South Nyanza athlete has plenty to do in quest for 51.00 second qualifying time for the women’s 400m.
One lap athlete Mercy Okech is plotting a successful transition from football to the senior ranks in the track with her gaze firmly fixed at World Championships in Budapest, Hungary later this year.
It may be too soon for the novice considering the milestones she has to cross but the former flying winger who completely dumped football for the track is confident of qualifying for the global show scheduled for August 19-27.
Akech, meaning the hungry one, sees the 51 seconds qualifying time set for the women’s 400m as very much withing her reach.
“This year I want to run below 52:00 and hopefully make my debut in the senior category at the World Championships in August,” she said.
During the third Athletics Kenya meet in Thika, the Ngong-based athlete was in a class of her own which saw her win the 400m race in 54.30. Naomi Korir and Gladys Jepkemboi settled for second and third place in 54.50 and 55.80 respectively.
The 20-year-old also participated in the second AK meet where she only managed to reach the semi final after failing to hit the qualifying time for the final.
Meanwhile, Margaret Ngoiri is putting her disappointment of missing out on the junior team that represented the country at the East African Under18/20 championships and has set her eyes on the World Championships.
Ngoiri noted that it would be her first time representing the country but the times she posted did not meet the standards and so she was left out.
“That had been my main target. Going forward, I want to go hard into training and make sure I make Team Kenya for the World Championships,” she said.
During the third AK meet, the Form-two student settled for second place in the 5000m (16:19.10) behind Irene Kimais who ran away with the top honours.
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