Kenya plots London worlds conquest sans Rudisha
Print Edition
KENYA’S athletes flew out for London’s world championships yesterday, their hopes for domination battered by the last-minute withdrawal of 800-meter Olympic champion David Rudisha with a quad injury.
Olympic 3,000 steeplechase runner Conseslus Kipruto was aiming to add a world title to the gold he won in Rio last year — and three-time world 1,500 champion Asbel Kiprop has vowed to retain his crown in the games that begin on Friday.
But Rudisha’s torn muscle robbed him of his chance to go for a third world title and gave his team a steeper climb up the medals table, which it topped in Beijing two years ago.
“We cannot be overconfident, even if we have such a good team,” head coach Julius Kirwa said on the eve of their departure.
He has good reasons to be cautious, given the political and legal distractions that have swirled around the team in recent months. Its participation in London was cleared when officials finally filed paperwork showing it had met International Association of Athletics Federations’ anti-doping conditions, after missing two deadlines.
Kenya’s reputation for middle and long distance running has been tarnished by failed doping tests among its elite athletes, including former three-time Boston and Chicago marathon winner, Rita Jeptoo.
With the paperwork filed, attention has switched back to the 48-strong team.
“As Olympic champion, this is what I have been waiting for. I would wish to be crowned a world champion,” Kipruto said.
Julius Yego, world javelin champion, is also in the team, as is London marathon winner Daniel Wanjiru, Paris Marathon champion Paul Lonyangata and Boston Marathon title holder Geoffrey Kirui. Among the women in the 800 is former world champion Eunice. Two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat will compete in the marathon, along with Hela Kiprop.
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