When
Michael Kipyego won the Tokyo Marathon last Sunday, it could have passed for just
any other victory by our Kenyan men in world’s major marathons every other
weekend. But Kipyego’s triumph at the 42 km distance was unique in that he is a
former 3000m steeplechase runner and signals a trend amongst athletes in that
event making a sharp trajectory move from that middle distance track event
straight to the marathon.
And
he is not the first one, only that he has found success at the longer distance
quicker than he did at the track. Current steeplechase stars such as Olympic
and World Champions Ezekiel Kemboi and Brimin Kipruto have expressed interest
in moving up to the marathon, soon after their steeplechase careers are over.
But
why do most steeplechasers the move to the marathon and not to the next logical
event, the 5000 meters or the 10,000 meters on the track?
One
reason could be that the event is so specialized as the physical attributes required of a
successful steeplechaser include the speed of a middle distance runner, the
stamina of a cross country runner, the strength and flexibility of the 400
hurdler, and the ability to thrive under unpredictable race conditions and pace
variations.
Another reason could be that most need a new
challenge and the longer track races do not pose an interesting enough test and
greater financial rewards as the road races do.
On the other hand, great
steeplechasers are extraordinarily tough and determined athletes with
exceptional force of will as well as finely developed skills, as proved by the
great Moses Kiptanui and Peter Koech who excelled in the 5000m after tremendous
careers in the steeplechase.
But this interesting phenomenon amongst
steeplechasers brings about questions about our succession planning for this event.
Despite our tremendous history and strong heritage in the steeplechase, we need
to plan ahead.
Since 1968, Kenya has won every single Olympic steeplechase
except for boycotts in ’76 and 80. A Kenyan born
runner has gotten gold and silver in the steeplechase at every World
Championship and Olympic Games since 1988 with the exception of 2001 when they
got gold and bronze. Kenya born athletes swept the medals
in 1992, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2007. 8 out of the top 10 all time fastest times in
the steeplechase are by Kenyans. 9 if you count Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar,
formerly Stephen Cherono of Kenya.
Basically, no country dominates an
event like Kenya dominates the steeplechase. It is our marquee event!
But it takes just one major
championship without a win in the steeplechase, a real possibility, to uncover
our lack of succession planning.
Since 2003, our steeplechase titles
and medals have been acquired by only four athletes; Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin
Kipruto, Paul Koech and Richard Mateelong. It is the only event in Kenya where
our athletes show tremendous consistency, an important characteristic for
success at the highest level and this is self evident with this group. But they
can’t continue at this level for much longer.
Beyond these four, there are still quality
athletes in the pipeline, but few that show the determination and character to
win major races.
Given that the competition is getting stiffer with the French
and even Ugandans getting closer, we need to prepare for the succession of the
next great Kenyan steeplechasers rather than just imagining that we can ride on
the national pride of our domination of the event for years to come.
