Eyes right! Focus on Komon’s charge towards 10,000m title

Leonard Komon, the world 10-kilometre record holder, will be out to silence his critics on Saturday as he seeks a ticket to lead the Kenya team to the IAAF World Championships in Athletics in the 10,000 metres race.

Axed from Kenya’s team to the World Cross Country Championships early this year for mistakes not his own - for competing in a race in Puerto Rico when his colleagues were in training camp - Komon has never shaken off that feeling of betrayal.

But now he has the grand stage to respond to the cynics by finishing in the top two slots of the longest track race that has attracted 61 contestants.

Komon, 23, run a jaw-wrecking 26:44 in Utrecht, The Netherlands, last September to become the new world record holder, which was 17 seconds better than compatriot Micah Kogo’s previous best.

In November, he set his second world record over 15km (41:13 minutes). But after his cruise was controlled by Athletics Kenya, he returns a wounded man, ready to stake claim to the three slots up for grabs.

“I have to fight to secure a position. Everyone is there and all are prepared.

Battled with groin injury

“You can not single out an individual, but I have to be in the team, though it will be hard, just like it will be to my opponents. I have to a point to prove, though,” said Komon.

It will be the first time that Komon, who has battled with a groin injury for over three years, will have his sights trained on the global championships.

“I have to take this chance. It may never happen again,” he said.

Already world 10,000m bronze medallist, Moses Masai, has pulled with a hip injury.

But that does not water down the level of competition.
Masai singled out former world junior 10,000m champion Josephat Bett and world half marathon champion Wilson Kiprop as the men to beat, and Komon concurs.

“They are strong and we will all try to beat them. I have nothing more to say, I believe the legs will do the talking,” said Komon.

Kiprop has a 27:26.93 as his personal best and last competed for Kenya at the Africa Championships where he held out compatriot Geoffrey Mutai and Uganda’s Moses Kipsiro to clinch the gold.

But while Mutai will be also running, he will not be a threat as he is not keen to compete at the IAAF World Championships.

There is then threat from Japan-based runners including world cross country silver medallist in the 12km, Paul Tanui (26:50.63), Biden Karoki (27:11), Josphat Ndambiri, former world 10,000m bronze medallist Martin Irungu Mathathi, world junior 10,000m silver medallist Clement Langat, just to name a few.

Meanwhile, the battle lines are drawn in the 5,000 metres men’s final as youngsters, led by Isaiah “Chairman” Kiplangat emerge from the shadows, drone in paraphernalia and ready to aim their guns on the seniors and relegate them to early retirement.

The race, which had 52 entries before they were cut down to just 15 finalists, lacks only the Ethiopians trickery, to equal the World Championships proper.

Former World Youth 3,000m champion Kiplangat has already ruffled the pecking order in the men 5,000m race as he seek to stake claim in the national team in the toughest race of the national championship.

Score to settle with Ethiopian

Having clocked 12:54.59 in Eugene, Oregon, Kiplangat is second fastest this season to Ethiopians Imane Merga (12:54.21) after he beat him at the Rome Diamond League meeting with Vincent Chepkok (12:55.29) settling for third.

But their score with the Ethiopian can wait until Daegu.

Today, Chepkok and Kiplangat have small matter of qualifying for the world championship in a race that has its runners literally fighting for their survival in a choking field.

Kiplangat was relentless as he pushed up the pace beating his opposition easily in the semi finals stage clocking a time of 13:29.3 ahead of Silas Kipruto’s 13:31.5.

“I don’t want to believe too much.

“There is still much at stake and having run here does not mean anything at the finals. It will be hard and tactical,” said a reserved Kiplangat.

This will be the third main championship for Kiplangat, 18, after the world youth and the World cross country championship, where he wound up fifth in the junior men 8km race.

But he is ready to make amends over his poor show in Punta Umbria and Daegu gives him the best stage to do so.
When you throw in Chepkok, World Military Games champion Mark Kiptoo, Joseph Kitur Kiplimo and former champion Eliud Kipchoge among others stars, it becomes toxic.

Kiptoo, at 37, is eying to hit two birds with one stone.

Later today he will link up with an earlier group of Soldiers who have left Nairobi for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for the World Military Games but he is not taking his foot off the acceleration pedal.

“I know the jewel in the crown is winning a ticket to Daegu.

“But the allure of a successful defence of my title is too appealing to ignore. I want to do well in both competitions,” said Kiptoo whose season best time is 12:59.91.

Jacob Cheshari, Emmanuel Bett and Michael Tiony, who has been dominating the local circuit, will likely do the pace work. Tioni was third in his semi final heat clocking 13:43.4 beating Sammy Kitwara and Josphat Kiprono.

There is also Vincent Yator, the Africa silver medallist, who triumphed in the semi finals.

He showed his sprinting prowess when he left Kenya Prison’s Thomas Longosiwa former world champion Eliud Kipchoge in his wake.

If he will be able to repeat the same today, only time will tell.