Isa
Omok (Reuters)
20 June 2001 – Nairobi - Olympic 1500 metre champion Noah Ngeny and 3000 metre
steeplechase champion Reuben Kosgei are looking to book their places at the World
Championships when Kenya’s national trials get underway on Thursday.
Ngeny and Kosgei have made it clear they want to add world titles to their Sydney Olympic crowns when the Championships are held in August. World records are a number three priority.
Although Ngeny easily won the 1500 metre event at Kenya’s Armed Forces championships last month, he has not had a good season on the Grand Prix circuit.
He will face a stiff challenge from Sammy Mutai and Laban Rotich and the highly-rated world cross country short race champion Enock Koech.
Kosgei will be up against the experienced former 3000 metre steeplechase World Champion and Sydney Olympic silver medallist Wilson Boit Kipketer, reigning world record holder Bernard Barmasai and African champion Kipkurui Misoi in an event which Kenya has dominated over the years.
World 3,000 metre steeplechase Champion Christopher Kosgei withdrew earlier in the week citing injury, but his hopes of being selected as a wild card have been thwarted by Kenya’s athletics chiefs.
Others on the starting line-up for the steeplechase are current World Junior Champion and world junior record holder Raymond Yator and renowned cross country star John Kosgei.
Uphill Task
Former World Cross Country short course Champions John Kibowen and Benjamin Limo have an uphill task in the 5000 metres where they tackle hugely talented Sammy Kipketer, veteran Tom Nyariki and Albert Chepkurui.
In the absence of double World and double Olympic silver medallist Paul Tergat, Stramilano half marathon winner Patrick Ivuti has a head start in the 10,000 metres. But he will have to keep an eye on upcoming national champion John Korir and William Kalya.
In the women’s events, double Boston City marathon winner Wincatherine Ndereba and Rotterdam marathon winner Susan Chepkemei are destined to struggle to make the 10,000 metre team, with competition from Alice Timbilil and Sharon Cherop.
Ndereba and Chepkemei opted out of the marathon team, saying that after gruelling marathon victories in Boston and Rotterdam in April, they would not recover in time for Edmonton. But their attempts at attaining the 10,000 metres qualifying time of 32 minutes have so far been in vain.
