Malawian athlete flops at continental cross country
Malawian athlete Kephas Kasten has put up a disappointing performance at Africa Cross country held in Yaounde, Cameroon on Saturday.
Kasten, who is Malawi’s champion in the 10km was a pale shadow of his ability clocking 33:42 minutes far short of his national championship record of 30:26 minutes.
It also raises eyebrows on the integrity of the Malawi national competition as he finished on position 42 out if 46 participants.
Kenya athletes dominated the distance having won all podium positions in 10 km.
Athletics Association of Malawi President Godfrey Phiri said the Malawian sole ambassador at the competition was affected by the terrain.
“Each and every cross country has its on course. So most likely the course of the route was not the same as that we had in Mzuzu,” Phiri said.
But he applauded Malawi National Council of Sports for providing funding for the athlete saying it is a requirement by the world athletics governing body International Athletics Association Federation to offer their annual grant of US$15000.
Last year Malawi did not get the funding for the first time after failing to present the budget on time and at least to send an athlete to a competition sanctioned IAAF.
The poor performance comes in an Olympic Year in Rio, Brazil raising doubts whether Malawi will ever break the jinx to win a medal at a major competition.
