AK needs to change tack in championships
Abel Kirui, the World marathon champion, celebrates after claiming silver in the London Olympic games at the Mall on August 12 2012. Abel Kirui (world champion in 2009 and 2011), the late Samuel Wanjiru (Olympic champion 2008) and Catherine Ndereba (world champion 2003 and 2007) are the only stars to have brought Kenya gold medals at the championships. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- However, we have failed to replicate this when the country is fighting for glory at championships including Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
- Abel Kirui (world champion in 2009 and 2011), the late Samuel Wanjiru (Olympic champion 2008) and Catherine Ndereba (world champion 2003 and 2007) are the only stars to have brought Kenya gold medals at the championships.
It is a great to see Kenyan athletes rule the world of road running all over and especially the big six marathons – New York, Chicago, Boston, Berlin, London and Tokyo.
Every other weekend, we have a Kenyan runner winning a marathon somewhere, be it at home or abroad.
However, we have failed to replicate this when the country is fighting for glory at championships including Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games and World Championships.
Abel Kirui (world champion in 2009 and 2011), the late Samuel Wanjiru (Olympic champion 2008) and Catherine Ndereba (world champion 2003 and 2007) are the only stars to have brought Kenya gold medals at the championships.
And despite Kenyan dominance at the Commonwealth Games over the years, the Glasgow edition three months ago demanded for a rethink of our commitment.
What are we not doing right? Athletics Kenya should find way of not only ensuring that we participate in these events but also have our best runners at the global stages.
AK should liaise with some of the country’s best runners and convince them on the significance of doing duty for the country.
ATHLETES SHOULD PREPARE
We appreciate that these other events are a life-line for our runners but they must realise that the country also needs them.
With the 2015 World Championships just some months away, AK should negotiate with our best athletes to prepare for the event.
This is even if it means singing to the tune of their demands to inculcate the urge and commitment to not only represent the country but also reclaim the lost glory of the likes of Kirui.
And as opposed to waiting until the final months to the event, AK should start preparations early enough like we have seen with some of the challengers, including Ethiopia and Uganda.
We should not be having athletes winning all the major races all over only to fall short when it comes to national duty.
Can you imagine a Kenyan team of world record holder Dennis Kimetto, former wold record holder Wilson Kipsang, Chicago marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, Chicago and Boston marathon champion Rita Jeptoo, 2014 London Marathon runners-up Florence Kiplagat and 2012 Boston marathon champion Sharon Cherop?
Having all these stars on the startlist will not only scare the opponents but also prove that Kenyan athletes are committed to ensuring that the country remains a force to reckon with in marathon running.
