Kiprotich targets 80m mark in quest for World Championships qualification

African Games javelin bronze medallist Alex Kiprotich/CHARLENE MALWA

 African Games javelin bronze medallist Alex Kiprotich says breaching the 80-metre mark is his main target this season as he seeks to boost his chances of qualifying for the World Athletics Championships.

The 31-year-old Kenya Defence Forces athlete said the mark has become the central motivation guiding his training and competition plans as he builds momentum into the new athletics season.

Kiprotich noted that his immediate focus is the national trials scheduled for the end of the month, which will mark his first competition of the year after opening his training cycle in October last season.

 “My personal target is 80 metres. I feel it will come. I do not know when exactly, but it will,” Kiprotich said.

He added that achieving the distance will depend on how well everything falls into place during the season. The experienced thrower, who last competed during the World Championships qualification window in July last year, said his preparations have centred on refining technique while balancing strength, speed and coordination—key elements in the highly technical Javelin throw.

“Training is good so far, and the techniques are improving. My main focus is coordination because in javelin everything must work together — the legs, upper body and timing,” he said.

Kiprotich explained that his training routine combines power sessions, speed drills, jumps and repeated throwing exercises to ensure quality execution.

He noted that each javelin thrower must understand how their body reacts to different movements, pointing out that flexibility and strong legs form the base of an effective throw while also influencing upper-body strength.

“In javelin, we are not the same. How we throw and how the body reacts is different for everyone. You must be flexible, and your legs must be strong; the upper body becomes weak,” he said.

Despite steady progress in training, the 2013 African Junior Athletics Championships champion admitted that limited access to proper facilities remains a major obstacle for Kenyan throwers.

In particular, he cited inconsistent access to fully equipped gym facilities that are crucial for building the strength required for elite-level performance.

“Facilities are a challenge. Accessing the gym sometimes becomes a hindrance, yet we really need it for strength work. We call on Athletics Kenya to help athletes with such support,” he said.

Kiprotich added that early training camps, improved coaching structures and proper dietary support would significantly boost athletes’ performances.

He also emphasised the importance of frequent competitions, noting that limited competitive opportunities sometimes slow the progress of Kenyan field athletes compared with their international counterparts.

“If we had more competitions, it would really help us maintain consistency because you keep testing yourself and improving,” he said.

Away from the track, Kiprotich keeps active during the off-season by playing volleyball and football, activities he says help maintain agility and flexibility while offering a mental break from intense throwing sessions.

Looking ahead, the thrower said his ambition remains clear — to steadily build toward the 80-metre milestone while positioning himself for major competitions, including the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

His ultimate goal, he said, is to secure qualification for the World Championships if his performances align with expectations.