Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenyan fast-rising javelin thrower Boniface Kilonzo has intensified his push for the Africa Championships and Commonwealth Games after breaking a stadium record at a recent meet in Uganda, signalling strong early-season form.
Kilonzo, who now boasts a personal best of 70.68 metres, delivered the record-breaking throw in his season opener on March 14.
This underlined his steady progression as he builds toward the national trials set for April 9-11 in Kenya.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has scheduled packed trials for 2026, including combined trials for the World Athletics Relays and Africa Senior Athletics Championships at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. “My target is to qualify for the Africa Championships and the Commonwealth Games,” Kilonzo said. He noted that the Uganda competition was a crucial first step in his qualification campaign.
With momentum from his Uganda performance, a clear qualification plan and backing from one of Kenya’s greatest field athletes, Kilonzo now turns his focus to the trials, where his fate for Team Kenya selection will be decided. The trials will be decisive, with athletes required to finish among the top two to secure places in Team Kenya.
Kilonzo heads into the qualifiers buoyed by both performance and preparation, having sharpened key areas of his game under coach Joseph Musonik.
“Training has been good, and there is a lot of improvement. We have worked on strength, mental focus and technique,” he said.
Having consistently thrown beyond the 70-metre mark last season, registering three personal bests, Kilonzo is now targeting a major leap into the elite bracket. “In the new season, my target is 80 metres,” he said.
The 80m mark is widely regarded as the threshold for continental medal contention, and Kilonzo believes his recent improvements, including the Uganda record, point to that trajectory.
“I feel I am ready. It’s only that I have not yet reached the target distance, but it is a matter of time and commitment,” he added.
His preparation has included refining his strongest asset—release power—while also improving overall technique and building a stronger competitive mindset. “I have added power, strength and improved my technique, and developed a strong mindset,” he said.
Kilonzo has also recovered from an elbow injury sustained in early January, giving him further confidence heading into the crucial qualification phase.
“I had an elbow injury, but now it feels much better,” he said. His rise has not gone unnoticed, with Kenyan javelin great Julius Yego recently acknowledging his progress on social media after training together.
“Resilience, consistency, and self-confidence will take you far… he always wants more,” Yego said, backing Kilonzo’s potential.
Beyond qualification, Kilonzo has already set his sights on podium finishes at both the Africa Championships and the Commonwealth Games. “I am targeting the medal bracket in both competitions,” he said.
Looking ahead, the thrower has called for increased support to enable African throwers to compete abroad, noting that many athletes achieve their best marks outside the continent due to more favourable conditions. “I appeal to sponsors to support athletes to compete outside Africa because most personal bests are achieved abroad,” he said.
