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Heroes welcome for Kenyan athletes at JKIA

By AYUMBA AYODI September 1st, 2015 1 min read

History-making Team Kenya athletes returned home Tuesday morning from the 15th edition of the IAAF World Championships in China.

The plane carrying the team touched down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 6.45am.

Plans are underway for a State reception that will be hosted by President Uhuru Kenyatta on Thursday at State House, Nairobi.

Deputy President William Ruto with Ezekiel Kemboi (left) and Julius Yego (right).
Deputy President William Ruto with Ezekiel Kemboi (left) and Julius Yego (right).

The athletes will meet on Wednesday evening at Kasarani Complex ahead of the State House date.

Among the athletes who arrived Tuesday are deputy team captain Vivian Cheruiyot who recaptured her 10,000m and history-making Julius Yego (javelin) and Nicholas Bett (4oom hurdles).

 

Yego became the first Kenya to win javelin gold at the World Championships with the third longest throw ever of 92.72 metres that was also an African record and World lead.

Yego is the current Africa, Commonwealth and African Games champion.

Bett also made history as the first Kenyan to win a sprint event with victory in men’s 400m hurdles in a National Record and World Lead time of 47.79 seconds.

Captain Julius Yego is welcomed home by relatives at JKIA.
Julius Yego is welcomed home by relatives at JKIA.

Other gold medallist expected are the new 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng alongside several silver and bronze medalists.

Olympic and World 800m champion David Rudisha and three times  World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop are the gold medallist who opted to fly direct to Europe for the Diamond League due September 3 in Zurich and September 11 in Brussels.

Team Kenya hauled a total of 16 medals; seven gold, six silver and three bronze. Jamaica settled second with 7-2-3 and United States of America third with 5-6-6.