After being dropped in the Tokyo Olympics and replaced with Timothy Cheruiyot due to failed Anti-Doping rule requirements, 18 year old Kamar Etyang is back but this time he joins the Kenyan Under 20 Squad.
Apparently the young squad has been at the bio-secure bubble in Kasarani ahead of the competition slated for August 17-22 at Kasarani in Nairobi. Kamar actually comes in for Emmanuel Lemama who was to compete in the 1,500m race with Vincent Keter. Lemama suffered an injury that forced him to sadly relinquish his position to Etyang.
"Lemama requested to be replaced after sustaining an injury and we assessed the situation and saw it fit to replace him with Etyang who was unlucky not to participate in the Olympic Games due to the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) rules," said Athletics Kenya Youth Development chairman Barnaba Korir.
Korir who also doubles up as Local Organising Committee (LOC) member for the World U-20 Championships, presided over the kit distribution at the Sports View Hotel on Sunday August 8th at Team Kenya's pre-championships bubble camp. The athletes received competition uniform, training kit and ceremony track with the spikes expected to be delivered today.
In February, Etyang was selected to the Kenyan Under-20 8km race at the postponed African Cross Country Championships in Togo. On April 24, he finished second at the Mandela National Stadium, Kampala in a time of 3:36.80 in the 1500m. Etiang came second at the national Olympics trials on June 19, sealing his place in Team Kenya to Tokyo.
He beat big shots such as reigning World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot, George Manangoi, Ronald Kwemoi and Bethwell Birgen among others to post his 1500m personal best of 3:33:12. He is ranked 12th in the world.
Disclaimer : Teamkenya.co.ke is not affiliated with the Kenyan Under 20 Athletics team.