Mutunga shifts focus to Olympics after record 400m run in Cali

Damaris Mutunga is turning her attention to the 2024 Olympic Games following her record run at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Cali, Colombia on Friday morning.

The teenager ran a national junior record of 51.71 on her way to winning silver behind Briton Yemi Mary (51.50) in the women’s 400m with India’s Rupal third in 51.85.

“I was expecting to get any medal and I really thank my coach for his help. My focus right now is on the Paris Olympic Games where I also look forward to winning a medal,” Mutunga said.

Earlier at the same venue, Mutunga’s Kenyan compatriot Faith Cherotich romped to victory in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final.

Cherotich timed 9 minutes, 16.14 seconds for her victory, finishing ahead of Ethiopians Sembo Almayew (9:30.41) and Meseret Yeshanew (9:42.02) who were second and third respectively.

Fellow Kenyan Pamela Kosgei came fifth after clocking 10:06.46.

The team’s manager Joseph Ilovi has exuded confidence Kenya will defend their overall title.

“We have a lot of finals tomorrow, and we are confident that we will grab a gold medal and other several medals so that we are able defend our number one title that we achieved last year in Nairobi,” Ilovi said.

Kenya has six medals so far (three gold, one silver and two bronze) to sit second behind USA who top the medal standings with eight.