Kenyan-born athletes eye medals for adopted nations

IN LONDON

During the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala last March, several former Kenyans who turned up to represent their adopted nations were promptly nicknamed “Kenya B.”

A similar scenario exists here where several Kenya-born athletes will be chasing medals running under their new flags.

Ironically, most of the athletes live and train in Kenya, and can hardly be put apart from their former compatriots save for the colour of their passports.

For instance in the 10,000m race for the men Friday night, Polat Kemboi Arikan (Paul Kemboi) was expected to represent his country Turkey competing against home boys Geoffrey Kamworor, Bedan Karoki and Paul Tanui from Kenya.

USA’s former Kenyans Shadrack Kipchirchir and Leonard Korir are also drawn in the same race.

According to Kipchirchir, training was good and they just want to run well and bag medals for Donald Trump’s nation of immigrants.

“We are representing our country USA and we hope for the best by the end of the games next week,” he said.

In the women’s 1,500m race, Meryem Akdag (formerly Miriam Chepchirchir) lined up against her former countrywoman Judy Kiyeng from Kenya in heat three on Friday.

The 1,500m has attracted 44 athletes, drawn in three heats.

We caught up with Akdag training at the warm up track at the Olympic Stadium in London on Friday with her compatriots, and she mingled freely with the Kenyans too.

She trained in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, before traveling for the championships where she is focusing on a place in the final.

“The competition here is stiff and the best thing is to make sure that you qualify for the next round because everybody wants to win.

“My training was good and I’m looking forward to a good race,” said Akdag.

Other former Kenyans running for Turkey are Mike Kaan Kigen (formerly Mike Kipruto Kigen, marathon), Polat Kemboi Arikan (Paul Kemboi, 10,000m), Tarik Langat Akdag (Patrick Kipkurui Langat, 3,000 steeplechase) and Yasemin Can (Vivian Jemutai, 5,000m and 10,000m).

Beijing world bronze medallist and Rio Olympic silver winner Eunice Kirwa will be lining up for the marathon on Sunday in Bahraini colours along with Rose Jelimo, silver medallist at this year’s Boston Marathon.

Both have been training in Kapsabet, Nandi County, where Jelimo is a popular figure among local athletes and fans.

In the 3,000m steeplechase, Olympics champion and world record holder Ruth Chebet from Bahrain, also based in Kapsabet, will be seeking to snatch the title held by Hyvin Kiyeng from Kenya.