Kenyan runners Wiseman Were & Zablon Ekwam qualify for Paris Olympic Games
20th April 2024
Were and Ekwam will now turn their focus to the World Athletics Relay Championships in May.
- Wiseman Were won the 400m hurdles title in a meeting record time of 48:57 seconds.
- The time was enough to guarantee the 26-year-old a ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
- Zablon Ekwam also qualified for the upcoming Olympic Games despite finishing fourth in the 400m category.
Kenya sprinters Zablon Ekwam and Wiseman Were had a day to
remember at the 2024 Kip Keino Classic as they both booked tickets to the
upcoming Paris Olympic Games.
Were, a one-time African Games bronze medalist, was in a
class of his own as he obliterated the field to win the 400m hurdles title in a
meeting record time of 48:57 seconds. The time was 13 seconds more than the
required Olympic Games qualification mark of 48:70.
He was followed by fellow countrymen Kipkorir Rotich and
Edward Ngunjiri, who finished the race in 50:39 seconds and 50:84 seconds
respectively.
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Speaking after achieving the incredible feat, an excited
Were credited his victory to putting in a lot of effort in training.
"It is just believing, hard work and trust because
everything will work out at the end," noted the talented sprinter.
When asked about what Kenyans should expect from him in
Paris, Were stated that he has a surprise in store for them.
On the other hand, Ekwam clocked a personal best time of
44:69 to register a fourth-place position in the 400m category. The race was
won by Botswana’s Bayapo Ndori.
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Ekwam told SportPesa News during the post-race interview
that he was delighted to attain his childhood dream.
“I am happy. It is something motivating. Olympic Games is
where everybody wants to be in their career, me being one of them.
In fact from today my name has changed from Zablon Ekwam to
Zablon Ekwam Oly. That means I am an Olympian. The best feeling ever in the
world,” he explained.
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After the Kip Keino Classic, the duo is expected to finalize
their preparations for the eagerly anticipated World Athletics Relays
Championships slated for Nassau, Bahamas in May.
In Nassau, they will take part in the 4x400m discipline alongside
the likes of Brian Tenega, Moitalel Nadookila and Kelvin Kipkorir.
David Sayanek, Boniface Mweresa, Nathaniel Kipngetich and
Kennedy Kimeu are also in Kenya’s team.
The eagerly anticipated relay event, which is scheduled to go down between May 4 and May 5, will be used as a qualifier for the Paris Olympic Games.
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