Ekwam turns focus to world championships qualification

Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) sprinter Zablon Ekwam has missed out on action in one of the busiest athletics years but his ambition of winning medals for Kenya still remains steadfast.

In 2021, the then Ndura Athletics Club athlete was the man to beat in 400m, announcing his arrival with a 45.65 seconds victory at the first Athletics Kenya (AK) weekend meet in March 2021.

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However, he spent the last quarter of 2021 and par of 2022 in military training and that saw him miss out on the chance to represent Kenya in the busy 2022 season that had Kenyan sprinters competing in the world championships and Commonwealth Games among other continental and national events.

Last week, he was set to be part of a Kenyan contingent that was to participate in an invite-only competition in Nigeria that fell through last minute but that has not dampened his spirit as he says preparations for the new season continue regardless. 

“I was looking forward to competing against an international field to test my body as I have only been in action once this year. During the trials for the Nigerian trip, I managed to run 47.2 seconds and my target was to improve on that before the year ends.

With no plans for any other events until January, I continue with usual training until the new year when I will have a clear path on where I will begin my competition for the season.

I will sit with my coach and agree on the best course of action. My biggest target early in the year is to make the time for the world championships which is set for 45.00 and join Boniface Mweresa and Emmanuel Korir as they are the only Kenyans guaranteed a place in Budapest in 400m as at now,” offered Ekwam.

The 25-year-old has since left Ndura club after joining the military and is now coached by Ian Dexter.