Athletes compete at the 3rd Athletics Kenya weekend meeting at the Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex, Kapsabet/ HANDOUTTwo-time Commonwealth Games relay gold medallist William ‘Billy’ Koskei has challenged Kenya’s young sprinters and hurdlers to draw lessons from the country’s track legends and avoid destructive vices like doping.
Koskei, a pioneer of Kenya’s sprinting and hurdling pedigree, began under the Ugandan flag, claiming silver in the 400m hurdles at the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh.
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He switched allegiance to Kenya for the 1972 Munich Olympics, bowing out in the heats, but bounced back with silver at the 1973 All-Africa Games behind Uganda’s John Akii-Bua.
His career peaked at the 1974 Commonwealth Games in Christchurch, New Zealand, where he won bronze in the 400m hurdles and teamed up with Charles Asati, Francis Musyoki, and Julius Sang to claim gold in the men’s 4x400m relay.
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A second relay crown came at the 1978 Edmonton Games with Washington Njiri, Daniel Kimaiyo, and Joel Ngetich.
Now retired, Koskei urges young athletes to tap into past wisdom. “The young athletes need to seek advice from the legends so they know what we did to succeed,” he said.
He warned against doping: “Stay away from drugs. Train properly and take care of your body — it’s your most valuable asset.”
Koskei also reminded athletes that the value of gold has not changed.
“The same medal from 56 years ago is still the same gold athletes compete for,” he said, contrasting past modest rewards with today’s lucrative circuits.
“Back then, we got small gifts — soap, plates, blankets — or around four dollars abroad if recommended by the IAAF(now World Athletics).”
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