Kibet not afraid of stiff c*mpet*tion in Doha, targets gold after winning trials
By Amos Abuga
Michael Kibet was only six when Benjamin Limo beat Ethiopia’s Sileshi Sihine to win Kenya’s last gold in 5,000m at the World Athletics Championships.
At the Olympic Stadium in Helsinki, Finland in 2005, Limo oust-sprinted Sihine to win the race but since then, a gold has been elusive for Kenya over the distance, as they have been living in the shadows of Ethiopians and most-recently Britain’s Mo Farah.
However, youngster Kibet gave Kenya hope yesterday, when he beat a star-studded field to qualify for the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar planned for September 27 to October 6.
The 20-year-old produced a devastating kick inside Nyayo National Stadium during day one of the national trials in a race medal prospect and Africa 5,000m champion Edward Zakayo finished a disappointing ninth, missing the World Championships in the process.
Kibet will be joined by Daniel Simiyu and Nicholas Kimeli in Doha.
The trio will be hoping for a better show than two years ago when Kenya’s Cyrus Rutto, Japheth Menjo and Davis Kiplangat performed dismally. Only Rutto made the final, eventually finishing 13th, and has since been banned for doping.
“I have a strong kick, that is the reason I decided to run from behind. I know I can beat anyone with my average of 53 or 54 seconds for the final two laps,” said the Iten-based Kibet, who clocked 13:26.83 ahead of Simiyu’s 13: 27.95 and Kimeli’s 13:27.99. “I want the world to know that age is just a number and that Kenya has young athletes who are ready to reclaim lost glory,” he added.
Simiyu meanwhile is just happy to have made the team.
“I am so lucky to make it. There was a lot of shoving especially from Kimeli. We had to talk to him to run fairly,” said Simiyu.
Perhaps the biggest disappointment of the day was Zakayo’s poor show which he attributed to sickness.
“I knew even before the start that I was not going to make it. I have been sick since coming back from Rabat, Morocco. I am still on medication,” said the African Games silver medallist who is recovering from Malaria and typhoid.
He added: “A lot can be achieved from the team we have. I wish them well. Should I be named in the team as reserve, I will not let the country down.”
