The new gem in women 400m Hellen Syombua has announced her arrival in the two lap event giving Kenya high hopes for that elusive top medal ahead of the postponed Olympic Games slated for slated for for July and August in Tokyo.
Speaking to Top Run Sport, Syombua said she was glad entering the longer event after a wide consultation with her coach and expressed her excitement, anticipations and hopes of doing well in the new venture.
“Yes i have indeed changed my event to 800m after an in-depth discussion with my technical bench. Such a great feeling and i am happy daring the new ground in my running career ahead of the Olympics in Tokyo,’’ Syombua
The Sensational police officer had hit the headline last year when she produced a devastating 51:09 at Kasarani to qualify for the world championships in Doha Qatar. The feat was enough to erase the standing record by Maximilla Imali of 51:72 set during World Relays trials in Iten.
Her entry into 800m is a big sigh of relief to Kenya which has been struggling lately to reclaim the past glory in women challenge. It will be remembered that Pamela Jelimo won Kenya the only gold in Olympics in 2008 with Janeth Jepkosgei bagging the country gold in Osaka world championship.
Last year Uganda’s Halimah Nakaayi surprised many by winning the event in a dramatic version to add salt in kenya’s wound which apparently is been bruised by the dominance of the South Africa’s Caster Semenya.
Syombua’s trainer Ian Ladbrooke however is a happy man and is expressing big hopes for the athlete to medal Kenya in Japan. He said they’re working together with his assistance madam Chela on endurance part noting that Syombua got some good speed that needs polishing to sparkle like never before in Kenya’s history.
“It is very exciting and i am confident that once we have improved on endurance; she can be amazing in 800m. Syombua is got better speed arguably faster than any of the past Kenyan runners in the event,’’ Ladbrooke summed.
Ladbroke further added that the training has been running well with some exciting sessions earlier in the year 2020 in Ngong of Kajiado County intertwined with some sessions in Nyeri County.
The alumnus of Mulu High school in Machakos County is also glad after fully recovering from the left upper thigh injury she sustained over a year during the police championships. She is keen now on improving her time with a target of 1:56 early as 2021 kicks off.
“I am happy with my training and glad the thigh injury is fully recovered. Now it is time to hit the road in my training with a target of 1:56 as the year 2021 progressess,” Syombua said.
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