by Justin LagatThe Kenyan Trials had its shockers. Timothy Cheruiyot finished 4th in the 1,500m and is not on the team. Conseslus Kipruto dropped out after 3 laps in the steeplechase.
What if, scientifically, runners who run well at high altitudes are not necessarily good at lower altitudes? Ezekiel Kemboi used to be beaten at the Kenyan trials, but would get wild cards and win gold at championships #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/aWim85bt79
— Justin Lagat 🇰🇪 (@kenyanathlete) June 20, 2021
In the women’s events, Hellen Obiri won the 10,000m, and will be named to both the 5000m and 10,000m in Tokyo! Thanks to Justin Lagat for sending us a story for each day of the Trials.
Hellen Obiri will run both the 5,000m and 10,000m in Tokyo. #Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/F5CJdvgCf2
— Justin Lagat 🇰🇪 (@kenyanathlete) June 20, 2021
When a runner is in good form, they can easily control the race from the start and still go ahead to win it in a huge margin. This was the case in the women’s 10,000m final at the just concluded Kenyan Olympic trials in Nairobi. Hellen Obiri led almost the entire race with occasional surges that would whittle down the size of the leading pack each time she made the move. With less than 5 laps to go, she was already alone at the front before winning the race in a sub 31 minute time at altitude. Irene Cheptai secured second place.
There was a huge surprise in the men’s 1500m final as Charles Simotwo won it with a strong finishing kick in the last 50m of the race. Well, this will now definitely leave the Olympic contenders from other countries in total confusion after they had been studying how to beat Timothy Cheruiyot in Tokyo. Cheruiyot failed to make the team after finishing in fourth position.
Abraham Kibiwott exhibited some great form in the men’s 3000m steeplechase race but waited for his friend, Leornard Bett in the home stretch so that they could cross the finish line together. Conseslus Kipruto had featured at the front in the first few laps before dropping out.
Nicholas Kimeli ran a spectacular men’s 5000m race. Except for Daniel Ebenyo who was closely following him, all the other competitors were each running their own solo race after a fast pace completely scattered the entire field. In a show of tremendous form, Kimeli registered an impressive time at high altitude to win the race ahead of Ebenyo.
Mary Moraa will be one of the stars who will be carrying the hopes for a Kenyan medal in the women’s 800m race in Tokyo after she got her ticket by winning the race at the trials today. Eunice Sum finished 3rd.
