NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – Javelin king Julius Yego, will be targeting to lower his 85.40m Personal Best and finish in the medal bracket at a global event for the first time in his career when he lines up for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
The 25-year-old who will captain the track and field team has speared his way to the top in the sport over the last three years, finishing just outside the medals during last year’s IAAF World Championships in Moscow where he recorded his best throw for fourth.
Yego, the first African Olympics finalist and two-time African champion believes the forthcoming Club Games is perfect opportunity for him to win a medal in the major competition after conquering the continent twice.
“The 2010 edition in India was my first time to compete outside Kenya although I reached the finals it was not my best performance since I threw 69.60m which is way below the standards of winning a gold medal.
“But this year I’m at the right age and the timing is good, comparing my previous performance in the championships I have been throwing good distances and hopefully, I will do above 82.00m in Commonwealth to be sure of winning gold,” The Kenya Police athlete who finished seventh in 2010 edition told Capital Sport.
Yego, who made history at the 2012 Olympics when he competed in the final with a then continental record of 81.81m in the qualifying rounds, says his outing at the World Championships in Moscow exposed him and is now ready to scale another landmark.
“Moscow was a big milestone for me, entering the medal bracket and coming out of it in a short time was an experience but at the end of it all the results that I achieved was brilliant.
“After setting my Personal Best of 85.40m, I have never looked back I still keep on working hard to make sure I win gold for my country in the global event since I have won two in Africa titles and I’m looking forward to breaking my PB either in Glasgow or in next year’s World Championship,” he added.
However, Yego cites Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott from Trinidad and Tobago as the man to beat, but declared he is up to the challenge.
“In championships surprises do happen like in 2012 nobody expected Walcott to be crowned champion, I know he will be in the Commonwealth and I can never rule anybody out since they are all competitors.
“I want to make sure I beat them all,” Yego declared.
Speaking on behalf of the track and field team, the captain was up beat the squad will improve on the 11 gold medals athletics won in Delhi, since hammer thrower Linda Oseso and himself are up to the task outside the traditional distance running medal breadbasket.
“Morale in the camp is high and we are well prepared, as we go for the competition our aim is to conquer and win more medals that in 2010.
“The gold medal tally will improve because unlike in India, we have a strong squad and I’m confident we are going to do well since we have diversified in other events like triple, high and long jump,” he concluded.
With team sport Rugby, Judo and shooting already departed for Glasgow, the track and field squad will be the last to leave on Thursday.
