Caleb Mwangangi home and dry, last test for Rudisha, Kemboi

Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (right) sprints to win the 5000m men's final on June 30, 2016, during the Olympic selection trials at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret. PHOTO | SIMON MAINA |

By  COPPERFIELD LAGAT

What you need to know:

  • Sprinters fail to hit the standard qualification mark for 2016 Rio Games
  • Earlier in the day, sprinters in the 110m and 100m hurdles along with the 100m aspirants failed to hit the standard qualification marks.
  • Priscilla Tabunda won the women’s 100m hurdles in 14:29 which is slower than the 13:00 Rio qualification standard.

Commonwealth champion Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku on Thursday threw down the gauntlet and struck the sucker punch after lots of pre-race shadow boxing to earn qualification to the Rio Olympics in the 5,000m at the National Olympic Trials.

Running before a packed Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, “The Buffalo” gored his opposition that included Olympic bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa and perennial campaigner Isaiah Kiplangat Koech.

He won in 13 minutes. 37:2 seconds. Koech (13:37.6) dug in for second with Longowisa (13:39:1) left to the mercy of the selectors in fourth place. Cyrus Ruto (13:39.1) was third.

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“I’ve been working very hard to get a chance to represent Kenya in Rio and I’m glad it has worked. I’m also very happy that the injury I picked up at the World Indoor Championships is healing.

“I still have to do a little more practice for complete healing,” said Ndiku.

While Thursday’s men’s 5,000m and women’s 10,000m overshadowed the sprints, Firday offers a mouth-watering menu with David Rudisha (800m) and Asbel Kiprop (1,500m) among the top draws.

KEMBOI, KIPRUTO COLLIDE

The steeplechase will also be eagerly-awaited with defending Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi and 2008 Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto both among the qualifiers from Thursday’s semi-finals.

Kemboi, who is also a four-time World steeplechase champion, will be up against Kipruto, double world silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto and Diamond League trophy winner Jairus Birech in the finals.

Kemboi “Baba Yao” on Thursday easily qualified to the final despite coming second to new-found talent Alex Kibet, who crossed the finish line first in 8:33:4. Kemboi leisurely tagged along in 8:35:31 with Kipruto third in 8:35:88.

In the second and more competitive semi-final, 2008 Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto and Diamond League sensation Birech took the first and second positions as Abel Mutai finished third to also advance to the final.

In the men’s 800m, Olympic champion and World record-holder David Rudisha will face-off against Ferguson Rotich, who has already beaten him twice this season.

Earlier in the day, sprinters in the 110m and 100m hurdles along with the 100m aspirants failed to hit the standard qualification marks.

Priscilla Tabunda won the women’s 100m hurdles in 14:29 which is slower than the 13:00 Rio qualification standard.

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