Kenyan chiefs defend Helsinki showing

Kenyan athletics chiefs have defended their team's performance but suggested coaches should be retrained after public criticism over results at the world championships in Helsinki last week.

Athletics Kenya secretary general David Okeyo said the nation's gold, two silver and four bronze medals was "a commendable performance considering that economic giants like South Africa who sent 80 athletes never won a single medal."

"We were 10th in the table standings, China had only one silver, Japan two bronzes, Australia one bronze. Why the fuss about Kenya?" asked Okeyo.

Unfancied Benjamin Limo won a 5,000 metres gold on the last day of the championships, to spare Kenya's blushes. In recent previous championships Kenya, a long and middle distance powerhouse, had won at least two individual golds.

Former world 10,000 metres champion Moses Tanui called for the disbanding of Athletics Kenya, echoing public concern.

Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, who had suggested in Helsinki that coaches should be sacked, softened his stance yesterday saying they should be retrained so that the best ones were selected for international competitions.

Kiplagat said the Athletics Kenya Coaches Commission have a habit selecting wrong coaches.

"They base their selection of coaches on rotation among key stakeholders like armed forces, prisons, police, etc. In the end, we have different coaches for every assignment," said Kiplagat.

But head coach Dan Muchoki and assistant Peter Mathu complained of interference.

"Kenya has some of the best coaches in the world. Blaming them is to divert attention from the real issues. Let us train as a team and keep agents away from national teams," said Muchoki.