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A stepping stone to greater heights. Long distance athlete Francis Khanje flew out to Kenya on Thursday morning after landing a three-month training scholarship.
An excited Athletics Association of Malawi (AAM) president Dunstain Mwaungulu said the 20-year-old Mulanje-based athlete will be training at the High Altitude Training Centre in Iten.
The centre is owned by Kenyan elite runner Lorna Kilpragat and her Dutch husband Pieter Langerhorst Kiplagat, current world record holder on 16 kilometres and 20 kilometres.
“Lorna invested her prize money in this centre to help blossoming young athletes,” said Mwaungulu.
The AAM boss said Khanje owes the invitation to his good performance at the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust Half Marathon, held three months ago when he beat six young runners from Zimbabwe.
“The Zimbabweans later went to the Netherlands where their talent impressed Peter Langerhorst. Upon hearing this, Khanje’s coaches Mr and Mrs Bosch informed Langerhorst and Kiplagat about Khanje’s previous victory over the Zimbabweans and hence secured the invitation,” explained Mwaungulu.
He also said Khanje will train with runners from Ethiopia, The Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Gambia, France and of course Kenya.
Khanje who becomes the second Malawian athlete to land a training scholarship in Kenya after celebrated Catherine Chikwakwa said he is looking forward to the training.
“I am happy that the invitation has come from Kenya because I admire some athletes who train there, most of them have managed to improve their time. I will put much effort to become like the Kenyans,” said Khanje.
Meanwhile President Bakili Muluzi has donated K1 million ($9,344) to AAM after being impressed with its operations.
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