The Kenya’s World Under-18 Championships commenced with lots of positivity for Kenyans as Elijah Onkware qualified for boys’ 100m semi-finals after clocking a personal best of 10.78 seconds, finishing third in his heat.
The World Under-18 Championships got underway Wednesday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani where sereral supporters came to cheer their athletes.
Onkware who was born on February 7, 2000 is seeking to qualify for the medal race of the boy’s short dash at 7:20pm EAT (+3GMT) that will be the penultimate race on Day 1 of the global track and field showpiece that ends on Sunday.
The 17-year-old, form three student from Mogonga Mixed Secondary School in Kisii, who was the first Kenyan to take to the track is a great admirer of Olympic and World 100m champion Usain Bolt, went into the race with personal best 10.96.
South Africans Retshidisitswe and Tshenolo Lemao won the first and second heats with the fastest times of 10.48 and 10.54.
Onkware was ranked 14th from the 24 athletes who made it to the semi-finals that are due 5pm on Wednesday.
Onkware said he had done good preparations and was happy to have competed with athletes from Jamaica in his heat.
“I’m very happy to have competed well and qualify for the semi-finals. It is a good feeling to compete with athletes like Jamaica and Bahamas,” said Onkware.
The athlete hinted that he will do his best and even make it to the final as he eyes to be in the podium.
“I will do my best in the semi-finals so that I can get to the finals since I am focusing on a podium finish.”