Vengeful Linet targets the big prize to shed Barsosio’s shoes

By CHRIS MUSUMBA

Since 1993 when Sally Barsosio burst into the global scene as a 15-year-old to win the 10,000m bronze medal at the Stuttgart World Athletics Championships, little has been seen from the Kenya team in the event.

Barsosio went on to win the gold in Athens four years later. But since her retirement from international competition, Kenya has found it tough to race in her footsteps.

That is however about to end if the performance displayed at the national athletics championships is anything to go by.

Linet Masai, the World Cross Country silver medallist, and Florence Kiplagat, winner in Amman, Jordan, in the 8km senior women’s race, as well as Grace Momanyi will be carrying the country flag in Berlin during the world’s biggest track and field competition from next Saturday.

Masai, 19, seeks to redefine the history of 10,000m at the global level. During the Kenyan trials, she threw down the gauntlet to her senior opponents at Nyayo National Stadium but got no challenger as she won in 32:49.3 to book her ticket.

It was Lineth Chepkurui, the Kenyan captain to the World Cross, however, who showed a true fighting spirit. Despite a sore ankle, she battled to secure the second automatic slot and join Masai on the flight to Beijing. She came second in 32:57.3, ahead of Japan-based Philes Ongori (33:04.1). Chepkurui and Ongori will however not be travelling as the coach’s wild card went to Kiplagat and Momanyi.

Kenya’s prowess

Kenya’s prowess in the women’s races is evident. In Osaka in 2007, Janeth Jepkosgei won gold in 800m. At the Beijing Olympics, Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Jebet Lagat were crowned queens over the track in 800m and 1,500m, respectively. So were Eunice Jepkorir (3,000m steeplechase) and Jepkosgei (800m), with Vivian Cheruiyot (5,000m) bagging silver.

The country again showed class in reclaiming the senior women’s 8km title in the World Cross Country championship in Jordan in March, with Florence Kiplagat winning gold ahead of Masai.

But it is Masai who has caught the eye of many as the potential successor to Sally Barsosio.

Born on December 5, 1989 in Kapsokwony, in Mount Elgon District, Masai started running in 2005 when her elder brother, Moses Masai, won 5,000 and 10,000m races at the Africa Junior Championships. She was inspired by her brother, who is a World 10,000m bronze medallist.

The two have another sibling, Dennis, who is a runner and they all train with the PACE Sports Management training camp in Kaptagat, Eldoret.