by Larry Eder
Asbel Kiprop, Silas Kiplagat, Doha 2012,
photo by PhotoRun.net
As Justin Lagat notes here, watch out for the athletes from Kenya who make the team for Moscow 2013!
Focus on Kenya’s Trials for Moscow:
Apart from a number of other strong athletes in the middle and long distance events from the rest of the world, the real focus on these events is often on the Eastern African athletes and that’s why most people across the world will be interested in the results of the Kenyan trials slated for this week, 11th – 13th of July, in Nairobi. Hopefully, I will be there to watch the events live and will be sure to share stories of the actions that will unfold there.
The 2011 world championships in Daegu were one of the best outings for the Kenyan team, especially on the first day, the 27th of August, when they won all the first top positions in the women’s marathon race, where Edna Kiplagat won a gold medal, followed by Priscah Jeptoo and Sharon Cherop. Later on, in the same day, Kenya’s 10,000m women did even a more splendid job by taking all the first four positions with Vivian Cheruiyot taking the gold medal, Sally Kipiyego taking the silver, Linet Maasai taking the bronze and Priscah Jepleting sealing the first four positions for Kenya.
Given the surface area of the country, it was an astonishing performance by Kenya placing itself in 3rd position in the world behind USA and Russia. Kenya’s athletes came home with seven gold, six silver and four bronze medals – all these medals came only from the middle and long distance events.
During the trials to be conducted at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, starting fromThursday to Saturday, Kenyan fans will be waiting to see if the same athletes that won medals for Kenya in the last edition will still make the team again this year, or whether a new group will emerge. So far, in the men’s marathon team that has already been named, none of the Daegu medalists are in the team. The defending champion, Abel Kirui, had to pull out of the team due to an injury, but there is nothing much to worry about, because Kenya is usually teeming with so many top athletes in the marathon. In the team are: Bernard Koech, Michael Kipyego, Bernard Kipyego and Peter Some. The women’s marathon team also retained the defending champion, Edna Kiplagat, but the other two medalists will be replaced by Eunice Kirwa, Lucy Kabuu and Margaret Agai.
Vivian Cheruiyot, who won gold in both the 10,000m and 5,000m in Daegu, will not be in the team to Moscow as she is expecting a baby. It will be interesting to see whether other strong women will emerge at the trials to fill that gap and ensure another great performance for Kenya in these two events. It is reassuring to note that all the others who finished just behind her in Daegu will still be in the race, and if it was that they were to finish behind her again, then Sally Kipiyego and Silvia Kibet will just move up to take the gold medals in 10,000m and 5,000m respectively.
The 10,000m gold medal has been very elusive for a long time for the Kenyan men and as the trials will be underway, Kenyans will be interested in watching the athletes that will make this team. Whether this will be the time for Kenyan men to finally get the gold, after the last one in 2001, remains to be known, and it won’t be that easy with three Ethiopians, led by Dejen Gebremeskel, already having run below 27 minutes this year. Mo Farah will also be one of the athletes there to deny Kenyans the chance. But, despite the early show of might by the Ethiopians, to some Kenyans, the 10,000m is one of the events they have the greatest hopes of winning in Moscow, besides the men’s 1500m and the 3000m steeplechase.
Asbel Kiprop and Silas Kiplagat have so far exhibited good forms in the past IAAF Diamond League meetings and are likely to make the team and carry with them hopes for a gold medal in the men’s 1500m. Meanwhile, they shall have to fight for their chances at the trials. Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto will as well be facing a tough competition from upcoming athletes in the 3000m steeplechase in their quest to make the team, notably from Conselsus Kipruto, Jairus Birech and Kipsiele Koech, among others. David Rudisha will miss the trials due to a knee injury, but may likely get a wild card later if his condition improves in time for Moscow.
A number of Kenya’s elite athletes often find the Kenya trials more competitive than the world championship events themselves. The real tensions and battles will be at the trials; because winning here at the Kenyan trials will easily translate into a gold medal at the world championships out there in Moscow. I am already getting excited to witness fierce competitions come Thursday, and I will remember to update you after the competitions.
