Japan-based trio all set for event

By Boniface Thuku

Three Japan-based 10,000m athletes arrived in the country ready for tomorrow’s showdown at the National Championships where runners of that distance will be selected for Berlin.

World bronze medallist Martin Mathathi, fifth finisher in Osaka, Josphat Muchiri Ndambiri and John Thuo, who was 18th at last year’s World Cross, embarked on acclimatisation training upon their return last weekend.

Mathathi, with a personal best of 26:59.88 achieved last month in Fukuroi, Japan, and Thuo, with a career top mark of 27:31.61 also ran in Fukuroi last year, were training in Nyahururu while world leader over the distance (26:57.36) Ndambiri camped in Kasarani, Nairobi.
The three will be among the top names expected to feature in the race.

Others include world 10k record holder and Olympics bronze winner, Micah Kogo, Beijing fourth finisher, Moses Masai, World Cross fourth placer Leonard Komon and world junior 5,000m silver medallist Matthew Kisorio.

Others are Osaka eighth finisher, Josphat Kiprono Menjo, Kenya Police titleholder, Sammy Kitwara, Armed Forces champion, Barnabas Kosgei and teammate Mark Kiptoo, who captained the country’s team to the Edinburgh and Amman World Cross events.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya (AK) held a meeting with top athletes yesterday where a number of issues were discussed.

It was agreed that a camp be set where coaches would access athletes to determine those to be allowed to compete in European meetings ahead of the July 25 Trials for Berlin.

"We want to stabilise those runners who have reached their peak to maintain strength and help out those yet to gain form," AK chair, Isaiah Kiplagat said.

He revealed the federation would pay Sports Stadia Management Board a flat annual fee to enable athletes access Nyayo National Stadium.

Kiplagat stated that AK had set aside Sh500,000 to buy track and field equipment to be rotated around the country during local meetings.

"We also agreed to send sprinters and field athletes to area meetings since they do not have agents to organise them races like mid and long distance runners," he added.