Dominic Abunda trains at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on May 11, 2023 ahead of the fourth edition of the Absa Kip Keino Classic.
They have represented Kenya at the Commonwealth Games, African Championships, African Games, and National Championships. But one platform remains elusive for Dominic Abunda and Roseline Rakamba—the World Athletics Championships.
This Saturday, the two hammer throwers will line up at the Absa Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi with hopes that a strong performance will catapult them into this year’s World Championships in Tokyo.
Abunda, 30, the undisputed men’s national champion from Kenya Defence Forces, and Rakamba, 35, representing the National Police Service, will be seeking to meet the World Championships entry standards—78.20m for men and 74.00m for women—or achieve a top-36 world ranking by the August 27 deadline.
Abunda currently holds a personal best and national record of 62.57m, set in 2018 at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria.
He aims to go beyond 70m at the Kip Keino Classic, which would bring him closer to both the qualifying mark and a higher world ranking.
“I have never been to the World Championships, but I believe with a quality field like that at the Kip Keino Classic and maybe a sponsored training camp, we can make it big,” said Abunda. “Poor training conditions and a lack of top-level competitions have been my biggest handicap.”
Abunda called on Athletics Kenya to establish structured support for field event athletes, especially throwers, through sponsored training camps and more international competition exposure.
“Javelin thrower Julius Yego had a major breakthrough when he attended a throwers’ camp in Finland on his way to winning the 2015 world title,” said Abunda.
“Nicholas Bett won the world 400m hurdles title after training in South Africa and Europe. No one has ever trained outside and failed to perform. We just need that extra push.”
Abunda is working on improving his speed and technique ahead of his fifth Kip Keino Classic appearance. His best performance at the event was last year when he managed 60.09m to finish fifth.
He will compete against a high-calibre field that includes reigning Olympic and world champion Ethan Katzberg from Canada, Olympic-bound Anastasakis Michail from Greece, and Dutch thrower Denzel Comenentia.
Rakamba, meanwhile, is aiming to surpass her current personal best of 55.59m, set at the 2023 National Championships, and ultimately break the long-standing national record of 60.80m set by Linda Oseso in 2012.
“I was doing two turns on the circle but I am now comfortably doing three turns in training and hitting 59m. That shows the potential I have this year,” said Rakamba.
“If I can’t manage 70m, then a 65m-plus throw can place me in Tokyo through the world ranking. That world-class field at the Kip Keino will help me do that.”
Rakamba faces a formidable lineup that includes Olympic and world champion Camryn Rogers from Canada, world silver medallist Janee' Kassanavoid of the USA, and three-time Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk from Poland.
