Team Kenya for the 2024 Paris Paralympics Games scheduled from August 28 to September 8 in the French capital is now complete.
This is after five more athletes were included in para athletics bringing 14 the number of para athletes to have qualified in five disciplines for the Paris Paralympic Summer Games.
The development came just after para cyclist Dedan Ireri Maina (road racing C3) and powerlifter Hellen Wawira (women’s upto 41kg) qualified for the Paris Games.
They are Samuel Mushai (5,000m T11, who is eying a historic fifth appearance at the Paralympics, John Lokedi (5,000m T13), and Priscah Jepkemei (1,500m T11).
Others are Samson Ojuka (Long Jump T37) and Sheila Wanyonyi (Javelin F12).
The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) granted Kenya three open slots for athletes, who achieved high performance after the World Para-Athletics Championships held June this year in Kobe, Japan.
Mushai, Lokedi and Jepkemei, who were among those on high performance list, were then picked after their exemplary performance during the national trials held Friday last week at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium, Eldoret, Uasin Gishu.
IPC went on to issue two more direct slots to Ojuka and Wanyonyi following their good show at the World Para-Athletics Championships in Kobe, Japan where they chalked career best performances.
“We thought we were through but we are glad that the IPC gave us two more direct slots through world ranking to Ojuka and Wanyonyi, who will be making their first appearance at the Paralympic Games,” said the Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) president Ronald Milare.
Milare said they will keep their options open since IPC could still add them more slots since there is still time.
In total, Kenya will be represented by 14 athletes and seven guides in five disciplines at the Paris Games.
Guided by Jean Kipchumba Mushai, Mushai, who made his debut at the 2008 Beijing Games, winning silver in 1,500m T11, Mushai, won the 5,000m T11 in Eldoret, clocking 15 minutes and 51.4 seconds.
Mushai punched his ticket, edging out Eric Sang and Wilson Bii to second and third places in 16:36.8 and 17:38.7 respectively.
Lokedi made his case known when he won the men’s 5.000m T13 event in 15:35.8
Jepkemei’s efforts were enough to see her punch her ticket to Paris despite finishing third in women’s 1,500m T11 in 5:10.9 behind Nancy Chelangat (5:02.0) and Mary Waithera (5:05.4)
Chelangat and Waithera have already qualified for the Paris Summer Games.
Ojuka scaled to personal best 5.73m to finish sixth in long jump at the world championships in Kobe where Wanyonyi managed 30.52m for eighth place.
Ojuka and Wanyonyi’s inclusion brings to eight a number of athletes, who have qualified in para athletics.
They are Nancy Chelangat (Guide Geoffrey Rotich) 1,500m T11, Mary Waithera (Guide-James Boit) 1,500m T11, Prisca Jepkemoi (Guide-Kenneth Lagat) 1,500m T11, Samuel Mushai (Guide – Jean Kipchumba), John Lokedi – 5,000m T13, Wesley Sang- 1,500m T46, Samson Ojuka-Long Jump T37 and Sheila Wanyonyi – Javelin F12.
Other qualifiers are in cycling, two from taekwondo, from powerlifting and one rowing, making it the first time Kenya has been represented in five disciplines.
Others who have qualified: Dedan Ireri Maina and Kennedy Ogada (cycling), Stacy Neema and Julieta Moipo (taekwondo), Asiya Sururu (rowing) and Hellen Wawira (powerlifting).
Ireri, the former street urchin, and Wawira, the 2022 Commonwealth Games are also the latest qualifiers.
Lady luck smiled on Ireri during the Africa Para-cycling Championships held June 26 to 27 in Cairo, Egypt where he claimed four gold medals; two in track (Velodrome) and road racing.
Ireri won both the time trial and the competition in the two events but punched his Paris Paralympics ticket in road racing.
Wawira, who is fresh from competing at the World Powerlifting Championships in Tbilisi, Georgia, claimed her ticket courtesy of a good world ranking.
Wawira is ranked seventh overall in the world in women’s up to 41kg where the cut off was the top eight by July 5th.
All the middle and distance athletes will continue to camp at Eliud Kipchoge Complex, Kapsabet, Nandi County while the cyclists are in Murang’a.
Ojuka and Wanyonyi will reside at the Stadion Hotel; and train at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani while Wawira will train at the Nyayo National Stadium but reside at Stand Hotel.
Sururu, who will be making her second appearance at the Paralympics, will train at Kesses Dam, Uasin GIshu.
The athletes and the technical bench will leave the country on August 7 for the pre-Paralympic camp in Compiegne that is 79.3km north east of the French capital.
KNPC settled on the Compiegne pre-Paralympic camp because of the leverage issues of accessibility and technical support in para sports. Team Mexico and Team India are some of the teams that will camp in Compiegne.