The countdown to the 2023 World Athletics Championship is already on, with the stage set for talent display in Budapest, Hungary from August 19 to 27.
More than two thousand World’s best athletes from across the world will take part in the showpiece, which is promising to be mouthwatering.
However, out of the hundreds of athletes who will take part in the competitions, focus will be on a dozen of Kenyan men and women who have won races and smashed records in recent past.
Here are three Kenyans carrying the country’s golden hopes as the focus shifts to Budapest 2023 action.
Faith Kipyegon eyes Gold in Budapest
Kipyegon will defend her 1,500m title at Budapest World Athletics Championships.
Kipyegon, who broke the mile world record at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, July 21 stated that she is ready for the World Athletics.
The mile race was Kipyegon’s third world record in 2023.
On June 2, the athlete broke the 1,500m world record in Florence clocking 3:49:11.
Also, Kipyegon set a 5,000m new record, 14:05:20 at the Paris Diamond League.
In addition, she won a gold medal in the 1,500m at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Again, the super talented athlete also won a gold in the 1,500m at the 2017 and 2022 World Athletics Championships.
Also Read: Faith Kipyegon Smashes World Record at Monaco Diamond League
Ferdinand Omanyala
Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is set to entertain the world at the Budapest action in 100 meters race.
On July 21, 2023, Omanyala made history, becoming the first Kenyan to win the 100m race at the Monaco Diamond League after clocking 9.92 seconds.
Moreover, in June 2022, he won the 100m race and the 4 by 100m relay at the Cote d’Or National Sports Complex, St Pierre.
Further, Omanyala has won five gold medals in the Commonwealth Games in 100m and 200m races.
What’s more, Omanyala has won four National Championship races in Kenya.
Mary Moraa
By virtue of winning the Diamond League trophy in the women’s 800m in 2022, Kenya’s superstar Mary Moraa assured herself of a place in the Budapest event.
In August 2022, Moraa won gold at the Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham.
This was an improvement on her performance the previous month where she won the bronze medal in the 800m at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
Also, she has won Commonwealth Games and holds one African U20 champion award and World U18 Championships Silver medalist.
Budapest qualification process
Athletes had three ways to qualify for the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.
The most straightforward method is to meet the World Athletics Championships qualifying standards during any recognized World Athletics event within the specified qualification window.
It gives athletes a direct entry to the 2023 world athletics championships.
Athletes can also qualify through their world rankings positions at the end of the qualification period.
Besides, the number of slots available through rankings depends on the number of athletes who qualified directly.
Thirdly, athletes can qualify through finishing positions at particular athletics events.
For example, reigning area champions or continental champions in most individual events become eligible to compete at Budapest23.
