One man, long fronted to break a decade-long jinx of Ethiopia’s dominance in the men’s 5,000m, is ready to step forward and hold the bull by its horns.World and Olympic 5,000m silver medallist Eliud Kipchoge, 24, has been looked upon as the man able to bring down the empire of Ethiopia’s running icon Kenenisa Bekele. For the last five years, however, he has failed to accomplish the task.
Kipchoge won his only World Championship gold in memorable style at the 2003 event in Paris when he was 18 years old after he covered the 5,000m in 12 minutes and 52.79 seconds in a race that will be remembered for a long time for its finish. He overtook the legendary El Guerrouj on the home stretch. That same season, Kipchoge also won the 5,000m at the World Athletics Final in Brussels, Belgium, in 13:23.34.
The World silver medallist will however be missing in action at the New KCC national athletics championships at Nyayo National Stadium on Friday as he will be among elite Kenyan runners competing in the Milan Grand Prix in Italy on Thursday.
“I am travelling to Milan. I have a race (in Milan) and I hope to do well in it. I will be back for the national trials next month. It is not that I look down upon the race, but it is because of contractual obligations,” he said.
Kipchoge however singled out Kenya Police prodigy Sammy Kitwara as the real threat to his local dominace, saying: “Though the race is open, he (Kitwara) is among the key figures pushing hard for a slot. He is yet to represent the country but he is a strong runner.”
Kitwara showed his form when he won the Kenya Police championship. He also denied World Marathon record holder Haile Gebrselassie another crown in the Netherlands when he beat him at the City-Pier-City Half Marathon in The Hague.
Gebrselassie had needed to recapture the world record he lost to Kenya’s Samuel Wanjiru, but in the last few metres he was outsprinted by Kitwara, who clocked a winning 59:47, one second ahead of the Ethiopian.
Also expected to race today are World Junior silver medallist Mathew Kisorio, Isaac Songok, Joseph Ebuya, Alex Macharia, Josphat Bett and Levy Matebo.
Former World Junior Cross Country champion Pauline Korikwiang, who has failed to sparkle since graduating to the senior ranks, will be among the big names in the women’s race.
“I will be running in the 5,000m race. I have done well in training, been abroad to test my performance, and I’’m convinced I will do well,” said Korikwiang, who has dominated the local meetings but failed to get a medal in the global championship.
Article courtesy of Daily Nation Kenya
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