Vivian Cheruiyot won the 5,000m in Nairobi. © www.photorun.net
At the Kenyan Trials this weekend in Nairobi, Vincent Chepkok surprised the field to win the men’s 5,000 meters in 13:19.8 minutes. Taking second in the trials race was Joseph Ebuya (13:20.2). Olympic silver medalist Eliud Kipchoge placed third in 13:24.2. These three runners will represent Kenya at the upcoming World Championships that start August 15 in Berlin, Germany.
In the women’s 5,000m race, Vivian Cheruiyot’s victory wasn’t as easy as Chepkok’s. She crossed the finish in 15:25.21, but had to fight the whole way against a strong performance from Sylvia Kibet who finished in 15:25.42. Innes Chenonge took third place in 15:27.29. These three will face off against rival Ethiopians Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba in Berlin.
“I know how the Ethiopians run and this time I won’t let them get away. If we run as a team, we’ll have a chance,” explained Cheruiyot, who won a silver medal at the World Championships two years ago.
There were no surprises in the 3,000m steeplechase. Olympic and World champion Brimin Kipruto (8:20.03) defeated the Olympic bronze medalist, Richard Mateelong (8:20.60), and the 2004 Olympic gold medalist, Ezekiel Kemboi (8:24.15). Since Kipruto was guaranteed a slot because he is a defending champion, the selectors nominated a fourth runner for the World Championships, Paul Kipsiele Koech, who finished sixth in 8:36.75.
In the women’s steeplechase, Gladys Kemboi won in 9:32.62. Milka Chemos (9:35.94) and Lydia Rotich (9:53.62) finished second and third respectively.
The highlight of the middle-distance events was the contest between the women’s Olympic 800m champion, Pamela Jelimo, and the World champion, Janeth Jepkosgei. The two were racing each other for the first time since the Olympic final in Beijing. Jelimo began her attack with 300 meters remaining, but was unable to maintain pace. In the last few strides, Jepkosgei surged past her rival, winning with an impressive 1:59.31 minutes. Jelimo clocked 1:59.49.
“I’m back in form. Jelimo ran a good race but I beat her,” said Jepkosgei afterwards.
Despite the outcome, Jelimo remained upbeat. “I’m getting better all the time and will be in the right shape for Berlin. But I still have to improve over the last 50 meters,” she said.
Dibaba Returns to Racing
Tirunesh Dibaba made an impressive comeback to the track in London this weekend after an earlier injury. The Ethiopian ran her first race since May, setting the fastest time in the world this year at 5,000m. The double Olympic champion from Beijing took the lead shortly after halfway and dominated the race thereafter. She finished in 14:33.65 which was a Crystal Palace stadium record. Her victory qualified her for the Ethiopian World Championship team.
Kibet Versus Gebrselassie in Berlin; Wanjiru to Run Chicago
The real,- Berlin-Marathon on September 20 is going to be especially exciting this year. Besides Ethiopian Haile Gebrselassie who is appearing for his fourth consecutive year, Kenya’s Duncan Kibet has also been recruited to run. This pits the world-record holder in the marathon (Gebrselassie who has run 2:03:50 hours) against the man who has the fastest time in the world this year (Kibet who has run 2:04:27 which is the third-fastest marathon in history). Kibet made headlines last year with second place (2:08:33) in hot conditions in Vienna as well as victory in freezing temperatures in Milan in a course record (2:07:53).
In other marathon news, the organizers of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced that the Olympic champion, Sammy Wanjiru, will race in the Windy City on October 11. After his triumph over an outstanding field in the London Marathon earlier this year, winning in a course record of 2:05:09, Wanjiru was selected for the marathon at the World Championships. But he turned down the slot in order to go for the world marathon record in the fall. Wanjiru will face strong competition in Chicago. Among his rivals will be fellow Kenyan, Evans Cheruiyot, who won last year’s race in 2:06:25.
In the women’s field at Chicago, last year’s champion, Lidiya Grigoryeva of Russia, will return. Among her rivals will be the leading American, Deena Kastor.
