The recently ended 16th African Athletics Championships in Addis Ababa last week proved to be more than a benchmark for Kenya to measure up against the rest of Africa in its preparations for the Beijing Olympics later this year.
It proved to be a tremendous opportunity to parade our latest middle distance stars. One of the things that is amazing about Kenyan athletics is that in every championship year, you can be sure that new names will emerge and that there will be sensational performances produced by either hitherto unknowns or middle level performers.
This year is no exception and the talk of Addis ‘08 was undoubtedly about Kenya’s newest middle distance stars, David Rudisha and Pamela Chelimo. These two young 800 meters stars sparkled in their senior debuts for Kenya with impressive runs and further demonstrating that our athletics talent pool continues to run deep.
Chelimo, who has been on a roll throughout the domestic season, has struck a rich vein of form and should she keep it up, could just challenge for the medals in Beijing later this year.
What was remarkable of her victory in Addis was her confident and aggressive style reminiscent of Janeth Jepkosgei, in which she blasted past a top quality field that included the legendary Maria Mutola. Granted Mutola is now in her twilight years but defeating a big name like that is a big achievement for any female 800m runner of this era and Chelimo should be proud of that.
Already she has shown maturity beyond her years and the tactical ability of a veteran at 19 and only in her first season of international competition. With current World Champion Jepkosgei serving as her training partner and role model, it isn’t therefore surprising where she draws her style and inspiration. With Jepkosgei and Chelimo possibly in Beijing together, Kenya’s chances of two medals in the 800 meters are not impossible.
After steadily rising through the junior ranks, Rudisha has taken on the mantle of the top 800 meters man with much gusto as evidenced by his trials and Addis wins. Rudisha reminds me of the quintessential Kenyan 800m runners of yesteryears reminiscent of the Sammy Koskei, Nixon Kiprotich, Paul Ereng, Billy Konchellah and William Tanui era. Tall, lanky and dominating!
Rudisha is a genuine hope for a golden moment in the Chinese capital. Wisely though, in after competition interviews, he played it cool about his prospects, for his coach Bro. Colm carries enough experience to know of the vagaries of Olympic competition.
There are already huge expectations placed upon his young shoulders as a result of his success. Only in his first year in senior athletics, he has many more years to develop and with the right approach already being applied by his minders, he will be a star for many years to come.
Another young star’s prospects continue to rise this time with an impressive bronze medal performance in the 800m. In stepping down a distance, Asbel Kiprop and his advisors are right in looking at sharpening his speed and tactical instinct in preparation for the Olympic 1500m. With a range many of his peers can only dream of -from African 800 meter bronze medallist to Rift Valley 12km cross country champion - the youngster’s combination of speed and strength is impressive. He’s obviously learnt from his missed medal experience in Osaka and will be a strong contender for gold in Beijing, of course if he makes the team.
These are exciting times for Kenyan middle distance running when youngsters are on the forefront in challenging for medals. It certainly bodes well for Kenya in upcoming championships with the future looking even more promising.
