L. MathekaKiprotich banking on European competitions to better his throw
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 28.12.21. | 10:05
The Commonwealth Games finalist is looking take the busy 2022 Athletics calendar count by qualifying for most of the international competitions.
Africa javelin silver medalist Alexander Kiprotich has trained his guns on qualifying for the various World Athletics (WA) competitions in 2022 and beyond.
To achieve the feat, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) thrower, says plans are underway to see him compete in Europe competitions as the level of competition expected there will propel him to achieving qualifying distances.
Top of Kiprotich's target is to grace the WA Indoors Championship set for 18-20 March in Belgrade, Serbia but to do so he has to beat his personal best of 78.84m by over six metres to achieve the 85m qualifying mark that would see him grace the indoor Games for the first time.
"I had already started training in December after a long break since competing at the Continental Tour but I have taken a short break for the festivities. I will be back in training next week with the aim of improving my throws. I have a few competitions organised overseas. They will be confirmed in due time," Kiprotich offered in an interview.
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With a busy 2022 that has the Indoor Games in March, World Championships in July, Commonwealth Games between 28 July and 8 August as well as Continental Tours, Diamond Leagues and other local competitions, the thrower is confident of reaping from good preparations ahead of the season-opening events in February.
Kiprotich won gold at the 2013 African Junior Championships after which the military side came calling. He finished seventh at the 2014 African championships, fourth at the 2015 African Games and seventh at the 2015 Military World Games.
In 2016, when he began training alongside former world champion Julius Yego, he managed a podium finish, in third place, at the African Championship and fifth at the same games in 2018.
He competed for an 11th place finish at the 2018 Commonwealth Games which was an improvement from the 2014 edition where he did not reach the final. His personal best stands at 78.84m achieved at a weekend meet in Eldoret back in 2015.
