The pride of the Kenyan sports industry is always to show its prowess and dominance on the continental and world stages over the long distances where it already has instituted a tradition.
The recent past does not seem to have been good enough for their expectations and so the very timely expedition to bring out the specials from the array of best that the country is endowed with. Kenya is particularly blessed, even by nature to always have an array of potential champions at a moment’s call in the long distances and this is also helped tremendously by the high altitude of her topography.
Kenya’s seriousness at taking on the world and leaving no stone unturned is discernible by her preparations toward the International Athletics Association Federation (IAAF) world meet in Moscow come August, 10th – 18th.
Having as many talents as would compare to Brazil having as many footballing talents would seem a daunting challenge to the Athletics administration towards a selection process but this is no problem to Kenya.
All roads lead to the Nyayo Stadium where events preparations by all athletes, proven and unproven, converge to fight for a space in Moscow. As a carrot, the Kenyan authorities have promised automatic tickets to the first two athletics to breast the tape in quintessential long distance events while the third spot will be decided by the panel of selectors through a process known as wild card.
By Kenyan standards, not very many athletes would love this ‘qualification’ route and so one expects the fight for a place at the world meet in Kenyan colours to be sweaty on Saturday.
By the system of graduation, it is expected that the fight for places will throw up a lot of rookies who have spent valuable years in understudy for the various long distances.
Medallists, Edwin Soi and 000m Betsy Saina who are Olympic 5,000m bronze and Africa winners respectively are expected rookies hungry for the world meet.
Soi’s win at the America’s Prefontaine Classic in 13:04.75, world-lead time, against double Olympic champion Mo Farah of Great Britain would need be proven to be real and no fluke.
He ended Farah’s brilliant run outdoors on track since 2011.
Other rookies expeted to shine are Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa, former world junior champion Isaiah Koech Kiplang’at and Africa bronze medalist Timothy Kiptoo.
Regardless of who qualifies, the preparations shows what the Kenyans are determined to achieve on the world stage. Longosiwa, who boasts a 12:58.67 personal best in 5,000m, said: “I have prepared well. Let the day come.” It is expected that he will find stiff competition in John Kipkoech (13:01.64), Patrick Mutunga (13:10.40) Lewis Lalang (13:07.13) and world indoor silver medalist Augustine Choge (13:05.31).
In other events like the 10,000m very little known Emmanuel Kipkemei Bett (26:51.16) will spearhead Kenya’s attempt to crew a 10,000m squad that will stop the Ethiopian domination in the race at the world level.
His rivals will be Vincent Kiprop Chepkok (26:51.68) and Africa 10,000m medalist Kenneth Kipkemoi (26:52.65).
World 10km record holder Leonard Komon (27:01.58), former world half marathon winner Wilson Kiprop (27:0198), world cross-country silver medalist Lucas Rotich (27:09.38) and the 37-year-old but ever-green Mark Kiptoo will also be on hand for the challenge.
World’s fastest marathoner Geoffrey Mutai, who missed out a place in the marathon line up, will try his luck in the 10,000m, having won the national championships a fortnight ago.
