Year in year out, I
am always amazed at the sheer talent pool and phenomenal performances that
emerges from our Kenyan athletes. The recently ended World Junior Championships
in Barcelona last week and Friday’s Samsung Diamond League in Monaco provided
some sparkling moments on the track that indicate that Kenya will be firmly on
the top of middle distance running for many year to come.
If there is an event
that clearly defines Kenya’s dominance in the world of athletics, it is the
3000 meter steeplechase. Its complete domination at the Olympics and World Championships
continues at the junior level where Kenya has an unbeaten gold medal winning
streak since the onset of the championships.
If there ever is a
clear indication that Kenya’s future in the steeplechase is secure for many
years to come, it has come in the form of one very exciting young star.
Conseslus Kipruto.
Last week in
Barcelona, the 17 year old not only won the gold medal in the boys’
steeplechase, but broke the championship record by a massive eight seconds and
won the race by over 100 meters.
And he wasn’t done
showcasing his vast potential yet. A week later in the Samsung Diamond League
in Monaco, he surprised the current world leader, Paul Kipsiele Koech, by
outsprinting him to win his biggest professional race so far and improving his
week old best by 2 seconds.
Pretty heady stuff for a teenager!
And it was a good
night for young Kenyan athletes in Monaco, most of who won’t be going to the London
Olympics, displaying quality and depth in the middle distance events.
The newest young stars
Abraham Rotich and Leonard Kosencha, who finished 1-2 in the highly
entertaining 800 meters look capable of complementing Rudisha at the top in
years to come, with a spirited battle that resulted in a national junior record
in the event.
But the undoubtedly
the highlight event of the Monaco Diamond League was the 1500m where Asbel
Kiprop was looking to compete in his final tune-up before the Olympic Games.
This race was
important for Kiprop as the last time he raced in
June; the reigning Olympic and world champion in the 1,500 wasn't at his best.
He barely survived the Kenyan Trials as he only edged into the top three in the
last 100 meters to finish third and qualify to defend his Olympic title in
London.
However, in Monaco, Kiprop was at his absolute finest. Kiprop
surged to the lead just before the bell and never relinquished it as he looked a lot more impressive, easily striding away from the
fast field over the last 100 and destroyed everyone over the final 50 meters,
winning in a sensational 3:28.88 - thanks to a spectacular last lap - to become
the fifth-fastest man in history.
Kiprop's instincts are all
about running fast enough just to win and holding back until doing that. Hence,
for years, in the absence of sub 3:30 competition, he was running times clearly
below his ability, but winning. And now he seems to have lost some of his
reserve and followed the rabbits closer, and the fast times have followed.
For a long time, I've thought Asbel Kiprop was one of
the greatest 1,500 runners ever but the strange thing is that he didn't have a fast
time to his name. Now he does.
Kiprop is definitely the
Olympic favorite and could follow Seb Coe, who is the head of the 2012 Olympics,
as repeat Olympic champion and achieve legendary status in the event and sport.
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