Kiviasi bullish about Budapest chances after shining in Mumias

The Africa 4x100m relay champion Dan Kiviasi says he is confident about qualifying for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary after polishing up on mistakes that cost him last year.

The Kenya Prisons officer missed out on the finals of the men’s 200m at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham when he finished fifth in the semis and admits the experienced disappointed and humbled him at the same time.

“It (the disappointment in Birmingham) is now part of history and I am already over it. My main objective is to work on the mistakes committed at the Commonwealth Games and use that to prepare for the World Championships…I am really inspired by it and want to qualify for it. There are a few races that I have lined up to help me in this mission,” Kiviasi said.

Kiviasi will be further buoyed by his first medal when he won gold alongside Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala, Samuel Imeta and Mike Mokamba after clinching the 4x100m relay title at the Senior Africa Athletics Championships in Reduit, Mauritius.

He was in prime form at the past weekend’s Athletics Kenya Middle Distance, Sprints, and Field Events Build-Up Competition in Mumias where he won the men’s 100m and 200m.

Kiviasi clocked 21.6 to win the 200m and 10.7 to take the top honour in the 100m.

Also hoping to take her career to the next level is World Under 20 400m silver medalist Damaris Nduleve who wants one last hurrah in the junior ranks before transitioning to the senior level.

“Winning silver in Cali (World Under 20 Championships) came as a bit of a surprise to me. I did not expect it would work out that well but it did. Now my biggest aim this year is to win the Commonwealth Youth Games title before I can move on up to the senior ranks,” Nduleve said.

The next track and field event will be the 1st AK Track and Field Weekend meeting at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu next month. 

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