Kasait out to end four-year Team Kenya hiatus after fruitful National Championships

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ATHLETICS Kasait out to end four-year Team Kenya hiatus after fruitful National Championships

Abigael Wafula 14:30 - 24.06.2023

She last represented the country in an international event at the 2019 World Championships.

Newly crowned national 5000m champion Lilian Kasait is hoping to make a Team Kenya comeback after a thrilling display at the ongoing National Championships at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kasait of Kenya Prisons Service outsmarted current world 3000m Steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech a few meters to the finish line in the women's 5000m. 

Her main plan now going forward is to qualify for the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary. She last represented the country in an international event at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar where she finished fifth in the 5000m.

"I am going to prepare well for the trials and I hope things will work out well for me. After this, I will go and sit down with my coach and see what I can work on ahead of the event. The mission now is to vie for a ticket to the World Championships," she said.

She recounted that the race was a tough outing since her compatriots were also strong. The race had attracted Chepkoech and the world 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Kipkemboi among others.

The 2019 Africa 5000m champion added that teamwork is what played a role in her victory and she lauded her teammates for their support. She revealed that she did not have any strategy on how to execute the race but she had a target to win.

"I didn't have any strategy but I couldn't afford to give up...I had to keep pushing even though the title seemed to be gone. It felt amazing when I crossed the finish line ahead of Chepkoech," she said.