by Justin Lagat
Men’s 10,000m, Kenyan Trials, photo by Justin Lagat
The second day of the Kenyan Olympic Trials was June 18, 2021. Justin Lagat covered the event for us, and this is how he saw the Men’s 10,000m, and women’s steeplechase, two of the most highly anticipated events of the Trials.
The two biggest track events on the second day of the Kenyan Olympic trials were the men’s 10,000m and the women’s 3000m steeplechase finals.
Rhonex Kipruto controlled the first stages of the men’s 10,000m race ensuring that it was a fast one, but given the quality of the invited runners, as expected, the pack kept together. Kamworor was always on the heels of Kipruto as the field kept disintegrating into a single file behind them within the first seven minutes.
At some point, after around the 4000m, Kipruto motioned to Kamworor to overtake and take a turn in doing the pacing duty as well. But, it was not yet his time. There was some hesitation and the pace slowed down a bit like a pack of about 10 runners began to form again at the front. Kipruto made another surge.
Congratulations  Geoffrey KAMWOROR wins 10,000m finals, timing 27: 01.06. Rodgers Kwemoi finished second. pic.twitter.com/BhMhWcQ6Ox
— Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) June 18, 2021
The leading pack suddenly reduced to three at around the 6000m point; they were Kamworor, Rodgers Kwemoi, and Kipruto. It was finally Kamworor’s turn to take up the pacing duties before calling Kwemoi to momentarily move to the front. Then, as Kipruto began to show a slight sign of weakness, Kamworor moved to the shoulder of Kwemoi and seemed to ask him to slightly increase the pace and break away from Kipruto. It worked. The two training partners were soon clear ahead and Kamworor took up the pacing duties again as Kwemoi concentrated on preventing a gap from forming between them.
At the bell, Kamworor who appeared to be in great form began to open up a gap between him and Kwemoi. On the home stretch, he saluted to the invited guests on the dais as he went ahead to cross the finish in a new Stadium record of 27:01, and probably the fastest 10,000m time ever run on Kenyan soil. Kwemoi followed for second place.
The women’s 3000m steeplechase race went to Hyvin Kiyeng. Despite taking to the front in her trademark front running, Beatrice Chepkoech did not make the pace as fast as she would often do, perhaps after weighing the level of competition behind her and seeing no big threat to her chances of making the Olympic team. Towards the end, the race was between her and Kiyeng, and there was no elaborate push to win the race as the two crossed the last barrier together before Kiyeng opened a slight gap just before the finish line.
Hyvin Kiyeng after winning the 3,000m steeplechase “It was a nice race. Our hope is to get to the Olympics in good health. We expect stiff competition. We still have a lot to work on as we head to Tokyo.” pic.twitter.com/0SgXdZ8GIt
— Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) June 18, 2021
