Sweet revenge for Kamworor over Kwemoi who stunned him in February
Former world 10,00m silver medallist Geoffrey Kamworor shrugged off a challenging past year to qualify for qualify for Tokyo Olympic Games in style as he revenged his shock defeat to Rodgers Kwemoi during the National Trials in February, at Friday’s Olympic trials held at Kasarani.
Together with Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Kwemoi, the two have secured tickets for the July 23 to August 8 Games during the second day of the Kenyan trials.
The duo will now lead Kenya’s hunt for the elusive gold medal at the Summer Games which Kenya has not bagged since 1968 Games in Mexico City.
The final member of the team will be made public when Athletics Kenya names the final team on Saturday.
Kamworor recorded an impressive 27.01.07 and was followed by Kwemoi in 27:05.51 with Weldon Kipkirui finishing third in 27:24.73. The winner afterwards said his target was to run sub 27 minutes.
The pace was so fast that even fourth place Collins Koros ran a new personal best of 27:25.56 which was inside the Olympic qualification standard.
As to whether Kipkirui makes the team remains to be seen especially after World 10,000m bronze medalist Rhonex Kipruto dropped out of the race with five laps to go having led for most part of the 25 lap event.
“ I have endured a very difficult last one year,” said Kamworor who was last year hit by motorcycle while doing his morning run.
“This is the only medal I am missing in my career and Tokyo provides an opportunity for me to attain that.
I am very happy especially with the time we achieved today. It shows with a little polishing we can make it in Tokyo,” said Kamworor who was cheered by among others deputy president William Ruto and World Marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge.
The entertaining final had the the trio of Kamworor, Kwemoi and the World junior champion Kipruto going hard from the yeh start and greatly stretching the field of over 30 athletes.
Kipruto would however drop out of the race in the final five laps, leaving Kamworor and Kwemoi to fight for the top honours.
It was Kamworor who got the better of Kwemoi when the crossed the finish line in as Kwemoi came home second.
On his part, Kwemoi, the national Cross country champion said he is eyeing a podium finish at the Tokyo Games.
“I’m happy with the result despite the fact that I finished second the most important thing was to qualify for Tokyo Games,” said Kwemoi.
Olympic silver medallist Paul Tanui and World Under-20 silver medallist Stanley Waithaka led a big number of high profile athletes who did not finish.
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final, 2015 world champion Hyvin Kyeng defeated world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech to second place.-AMOS ABUGA
Kyeng targeting a good show in Tokyo timed 9:24.5, ahead of the world Champion who clocked 9:25.0.
Purity Kirui had to dip deeper sprinting in the final 200m for a third place finish in 9:25.6 and beating the qualification time of 9:30.0.
“I am currently enjoying my running. I am in top form, I pray that it will be like that by the time we get to Tokyo,” said Kyeng.
World under 20 gold medalist Cellephine Chespol came home a distant 10th in 9:52.1.
