Gathimba confident of Olympics slot
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 28.02.21. | 14:39
Reigning African walk race champion Samuel Gathimba exudes confidence after winning AK 10KM walk
Reigning African walk race champion Samuel Gathimba is confident his build-up to the Olympics qualifiers is going well and he is in good shape to represent the country at the Summer Games.
Gathimba faced little competition in Athletics Kenya's (AK) first series meet 10k walk race held at Nyayo National Stadium over the weekend as he won in 42:03.8 ahead of Keyborn Ombato who finished in 44:07.1 for second place as Africa Junior champion Dominic Ndingiti placed third in 45:44.7.
"It was a race to gauge my speed as I prepare for Africa Senior and Olympics qualifiers this year. I had a good race and that gives me confidence that I will make the time for the two competitions come the qualifiers. I have been training in Nyeri and after a long layoff without competitions, I am grateful that the work I have put in is not in vain," said Gathimba after his win.
Gathimba took it easy in the entire race as he knew there was little threat to his reign but us aware a much tougher task awaits.
"While I do not expect much competition within the continent whether locally or at the African senior champions I know I have my work cut out if I am to have a better competition ag the Olympics," Gathimba added.
Gathimba emerged at the international level in 2014, taking a silver medal at the 2014 African championships behind Lebogang Shane of South Africa.
He set a personal best of 1:23.59 to place second at the national championship that year, behind David Kimutai.
In 2015, he topped the podium at the 2015 national trials but finished second at the African Games. The 2016 season proved to be his breakthrough at the 2016 African Championships where he won gold was a gold crossing the line in a championship record of 1:19:24 hours. This was a Kenyan record and was 22 seconds off Hatem Ghoula’s near two-decade-old African best.
