Olympic javelin star leads Kenya's gold quest to Africa Games

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NAIROBI, June 24 (Xinhua) -- Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego seeks to revitalize his career and believes the Africa Games, which will be held in rabat, Morocco will offer him the platform to restore a winning mentality.

Yego leads a squad of 60 track and field athletes that will represent the country in the African Games from August 23 to September 3.

Kenya won five golds in the last games in Brazzaville, Congo and they hope to improve on that collection.

Injuries and loss of form have forced the 29-year-old to limit the number of competition appearances but the Kenyan feels he has recovered lost fitness and will be looking to contend for the gold in Morocco.

"For the first time in over four years, I have no injury worries. However, I felt some slight pain in my ankle as I was throwing the javelin, which I believe is a minor setback though, it will not affect my preparations for the Games," said Yego.

The reigning African javelin champion, threw a leading 78.02 meters with Alexander Kiprotich who managed 74.79 meters the only other javelin to hit the qualification mark for the continental games.

World 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech set a time of 9:26.64 minutes ahead of Mercy Wanjiru (9:28.85) and Roselyn Chepngetich (9:32.10) to book her ticket to Morocco.

In the corresponding men's race Benjamin Kigen ran a 8:16.43 ahead of Joash Kiplimo who came in second in 8:21.94 as the duo earned direct qualification.

"This is important to my budding career. I have to be careful not to be over confident because I am still young and breaking through the senior cadre takes time. But I have my strategy going to Morocco, which I hope will earn me a medal," said Chepkoech.

World Under 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet will team up with Lilian Kasait in 5,000m at the African Games where World and Africa Under-20 1,500m champion George Manangoi will be seeking to follow in the footsteps of his elder brother Elijah Manang'oi, who holds the World, Commonwealth and Africa 1,500m titles.

Senior Manangoi has opted to give the games a pass this year, instead letting his younger sibling, George, the chance to take up the mantle and keep the family name flying high.

"I am plotting my own path in athletics. We may be competing in 1,500m race and training together, but I want to be my own athlete and carve my own path," said Manangoi.

"In Morocco, the pressure will be on me to win and I intend to do just that."

The 2008 Olympic Games 5000m bronze medalist Edwin Soi announced his comeback to track as he stunned the Olympic Games 10,000m silver medalist Paul Tanui to stroll to victory in 10,000m. Enditem

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