Nairobi — Japan-based Hellen Ekalale says her final dream is to signify Kenya at subsequent 12 months’s World Championships, which can be held in her second dwelling, that’s Tokyo.
Ekalale says the prospect of donning the Workforce Kenya singlet whereas working in acquainted territory is motivating her to work arduous in direction of securing qualification.
“After all, that may be a very enormous motivation for me. I’ve tried very arduous previously to safe qualification to main worldwide competitions however I’ve by no means been profitable. Subsequent 12 months, I’m praying to get the ticket to signify our nation in Tokyo and can work arduous for a similar,” the 25-year-old stated.
Ekalale is additional assured of constructing the rostrum in Japan, noting that it might be the stuff of desires for her to win a medal for Kenya on a soil she has come to name dwelling.
“I believe so…that I’m based mostly in Japan, I believe that is a bonus that will work for me. It will make me so glad to win a medal for my nation, particularly contemplating the competitors can be held in Tokyo,” she stated.
Ought to she make the ultimate crew to the worldwide championships, Ekalale can be flying the nationwide flag for the second time in her profession.
Her debut got here on the 2018 World Underneath 20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, the place she clocked 15:45.07 to complete fifth within the girls’s 5000m.
One in all her teammates on that event was Beatrice Chebet who has gone on to a medal-laden profession, profitable the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m title, World Cross Nation Championships, along with smashing the world document for the 25-lap race.
Ekalale says she seems to be as much as her agemate’s exploits as the total measure she wants to achieve in her personal profession.
“Certainly, she has gone forward to reach her profession and do nice issues. She is actually an inspiration to many, together with I,” she stated.
The Toyota Operating Firm athlete’s success are additionally not something to be sniffed at, significantly in Japan the place she has been strolling the monitor and discipline like a colossus.
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She has received 9 out of the 13 races she has competed in in Japan whereas making the rostrum in 11 of these.
Ekalale could not have closed her season any higher than with victory on the fifth leg of the Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Nation Sequence in Ol Kalou on Saturday.
She clocked 35:53.1 to win the senior girls’s 10km, forward of Christine Njoki (36:25.1) and Joylin Cherotich (37:13.1) in second and third respectively.
