Tim Alex (AP)
21 July 2000 – Nairobi, Kenya - London Marathon champion Tegla Loroupe ran her best race in her native country Friday to win the women's 10,000-metre final at the Kenyan Olympic athletic trials and a place in the Sydney Games.
``I'm now ready to make history in Sydney by winning the 10,000 metres and marathon,'' said the 27-year-old Loroupe, who is also the three-time Rotterdam Marathon champion.
``Before the race I was worried that I might not make it, but I just felt good throughout the race,'' she said,
Loroupe's German manager-coach Volker Wagner was in high spirits following Loroupe's performance, which included the best time in Kenya this season: 32 minutes, 13.5 seconds. World junior cross-country silver medalist Alice Timbilil was (32:18.0) with 1997 world 10,000-metre champion Sally Barsosio third (32:19.8).
``Loroupe has succeeded with me because we have formed a formidable partnership. There's no way she's going to train in Kenya because I understand her better than the Kenyan coaches,''Wagner said of his German-based protege.
For Barsosio, her third place was remarkable in that she also met the Olympic qualifying standard of 32:30 after not competing internationally for a year due to injury.
So far, there have been no major upsets with all the seasoned runners qualifying for Saturday's finals.
World 3,000-metre steeplechase record holder Bernard Barmasai was second in the qualifying heats with a time of 8:34.4, four-tenths of a second behind Abraham Cherono. World champion Christopher Koskei finished third in the same heat in 8:36.0.
Matthew Birir, the 1992 Olympic 3,000-metre steeplechase champion, was third in his heat with a time of 8:32.1.
The men's 800-metre final promised a good contest Saturday with Patrick Konchellah, All-Africa Games champion Japhet Kimutai, Mwengi Mutua and William Bungei among the favourites for the three places in Sydney.
Konchellah had the fastest qualifying time, 1:45.34.
In the 1,500-metre event, world 1,500-metre silver medallist Noah Ngeny faced a tough contest Saturday when he lined up against United States-based Bernard Lagat, Laban Rotich, William Chirchir, Martin Keino and Benson Koech.
A field of 13 comprised the 1500 final, including 1992 Olympics 800-metre champion William Tanui. Lagat posted the best time in Friday's semifinals, 3:40.1.
Five-time world cross-country champion Paul Tergat was among the qualifiers for the 5000 final, finishing second in his heat behind Kipchirchir Mitei. Daniel Komen, the 1997 world champion, was fourth in his heat.
In addition to Tergat and Komen, other competing for places at Sydney were Sammy Kipketer, Benjamin Limo, All-Africa Games champion Julius Gitahi and Philip Mosima.
