Apart from seeing her on track, Wasike takes part in various activities when duty calls. She participated in the 2020 prison passing out parade for recruits at Prison Staff Training College (PSTC) in her capacity as a commander. President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the event as guest of honour.
“This was a parade with history, marching with a mask on as well as social distance. Through that, we managed to host a successful event,” she explained.
Wasike said that listening to every person that supports you in that game is the beginning of success. People who support you like family, coaches, officials as well as the media. “Media promotes sports. They play a critical role in ensuring that the world knows what is happening. For one to succeed, you need to talk less and listen more. My advice to upcoming athletes who have passion for the event, commitment is key; you need to set goals that are measurable and with a time line for you to achieve them,” she added.
She is, however, optimistic that Kenya will soon get the best hurdler of her calibre while also appreciating that the country has never experienced a dearth of runners in those particular events.
“Kenya has produced about four hurdlers led by former national record holder and two-time Africa Championships silver medallist Rose Tata Muya, former All Africa Games 400m hurdles bronze medallist Maureen Jelagat and the new kid on the block Venice Kerubo, who is the reigning All Africa Games 400m hurdles champion,” she says.
With her efforts on track now headed for masters, she looks upon Rose Tata, the pioneer hurdler and her role model in the event.
Born in 1960, Tata specialised in 400m hurdles as well as 800m. She competed at Commonwealth and Olympic Games as well as the Africa Games.
Tata was a member of Team Kenya in 1974 and 1978 for the Commonwealth Games, competing in 800m and 4x400m before winning three medals at the Africa championships. She won silver in 400m hurdles and 800m before adding bronze in 400m four years later.
She made history as the only Kenyan at the world championships in Helsinki, competing in 400m and went ahead to win silver at the All Africa Games in 1987 in 400m hurdles.
Another hurdler is Jelagat who has competed in various championships across the world, ranging from Olympic and Commonwealth Games as well as World Championships. The Elgeyo Marakwet-born runner won bronze in 400m hurdles and silver in 4x400m relays at the 2010 Africa Championships, finishing 4th at the 2011 All Africa Games. But focus will be on Kerubo, the new kid who has won first gold for Kenya at the 2019 All Africa Games title.
“If the young girl is given a good training programme, she will be in another class of hurdlers in this country to conquer the world. She is good in her timing and I hope she will enjoy competing across the world, flying Kenyan flag high,” added Wasike.
Florence Wasike’s Accolades:
- 2005- National 100mH and 400mH champion
- 2006- National champion in 100mH and 400mH
- -Finalist at Africa athletics championships in 400m-H
- -Semifinalist 400m-H
- – Bronze medalist 4x400m relay at Senior Africa Championships, Mauritius
- -Finalists in 400m-H and semifinalist at Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Australia.
- 2007- Finalist in 400m-H at All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria
- 2008- 100m-H and 400m-H champion
- -Africa Athletics Championships silver medallist in combined races in Addis Ababa and 4x400m relay.
- 2009- National 100m-H and 400m-H champion
- 2010- 100m-H and 400m-H champion
- -National record in 100m-H in 14:21 seconds at Senior Africa Championships in Nairobi Kenya
- – Finalists at the Commonwealth games in New Delhi, India and 4x400m relay finalists
- 2014- Finalists at Commonwealth Games in 400mH and 4x400m relay in Glasgow, Scotland
- – 4x400m relay finalists at Africa championships in Marrakech, Morocco.
- 2018- Gold medalist in 4x400m relays at the world Masters Athletics championships in Malaga, Spain
- 2019- Four gold medalist in 100mH, 400mH, 4x100m relay and 4x400m at Africa Masters Athletics Championships in Redes, Tunisia.
- -Team captain for team Kenya to Tunisia.