Africa-Press – Kenya. World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase finalist Emmanuel Wafula is expected back in action this weekend during the second leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) cross-country meeting at the Kapsokwony High School grounds in Mount Elgon, Bungoma County.
Wafula, who finished sixth in the 3,000m steeplechase at the World Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, said he wants to represent the country at the World Cross Country Championships that will be staged in Bathurst, Australia on February 18th.
The Bungoma-based runner said he is keen to compete in the men’s junior 8km as his first competitive race after Cali. Wafula clocked 8:45.05 to place sixth in the water and barriers event that was won by Ethiopian Samuel Duguna (8:37.92).
Ethiopia’s Samuel Firewu (8:39.11) and Moroccan Salaheddine Ben Yazide (8:40.62) completed the podium. Another Kenyan Haron Kibet finished a distant 10th in 8:53.79.
“My journey to World Cross Country Championships will begin in Mount Elgon and I hope to win the race. Running at home is better because you compete with the people you know,” said Wafula.
“When I was in Colombia, it was a learning curve for me. I did not run well but I believe I have improved. As a young athlete, I’m still trying and one-day life will change. I got much experience in my first outing but that was about steeplechase. Cross country is a different ball game,” he said. He joked that the lack of ugali in Cali had impacted negatively on his performance.
“I missed Ugali but I had to understand that I was away from home. All the same, I am happy with the experience I gained. I want to use World Cross Country Championship as a build-up for the 2024 world under-20 show,” said the 17-year-old Wafula.
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