Kenyans eye Rome conquest

What you need to know:

  • The West Pokot County-born Longosiwa, who finished third after Hagos Geberwet and Mo Farah in Doha’s 3,000 metres, lines up for the loaded men’s 5,000 metres.
  • “The air is calm and we hope it doesn’t change overnight. For me, the conditions are like those back in our country. I am hopeful of winning gold and to better my personal best,” Kibiwott said Wednesday.
  • Ferguson Rotich, who contributed to Kenya’s 4x800 metres team gold in the 2014 World Relays, Ferguson Rotich (142.84) and Job Kinyor (1.43.76) are also squaring it out in 800 metres.

Track stars Isaiah Koech, Viola Kibiwott, Timothy Kitum and Thomas Longosiwa are the Kenyans to watch when the Rome Diamond League meet gets underway at the Olympic Stadium this evening.

Off the track, Commonwealth Games javelin champion Julius Yego – who threw a new national and African record in Ostrava IAAF World Challenge last week – will be itching for his first Diamond League title when he faces Olympic Games and World Champions Keshorn Walcott and Vítezslav Vesely respectively. Yego aka “Youtube man” beat both in Ostrava.

Koech won bronze medal at the World Championships last year, Kibiwot cut here teeth in cross country running while Longosiwa won Olympic Games 5,000 metres bronze.

They will get the Kenyan hunt for glory going from 9.30pm Kenyan time.

The West Pokot County-born Longosiwa, who finished third after Hagos Geberwet and Mo Farah in Doha’s 3,000 metres, lines up for the loaded men’s 5,000 metres.

Koech will be seeking for a better season performance after starting off on a low note with a 3,000 metres sixth finish in Doha. Geoffrey Barusei, a specialist middle distance runner, lines up for 5,000 metres tonight.

The 2012 World Junior Championships 1,500 metres winner is also joined by little fancied Ismael Kombich.

Kibiwott, who bagged silver in Shanghai, is gunning for her first win of the season, whilst also seeking to better her 3.59.25 personal best over 1,500m.

The 2002 World Junior 1,500 metres champion finished fourth at the 2013 World Championships 5,000m in Moscow.

The 32-year-old Kibiwott said the altitude and temperatures was favourable for a fast run.

HOPEFUL OF WINNING GOLD

“The air is calm and we hope it doesn’t change overnight. For me, the conditions are like those back in our country. I am hopeful of winning gold and to better my personal best,” Kibiwott said Wednesday.

Kibiwot will have to be wary of Jenny Simpson, the fastest woman in the list on 3.57.22, Ethiopians Seyaum Dawit (3.59.53) and Tsegay Gudaf (4.02.83) and Anna Mischenko (4.01.16) of Ukraine.

Others are Axumawit Embaye (4.02.35) and Guday Tsegaye (4.02.83) both from Ethiopia, Luiza Gega of Ukraine (4.02.43) and Kenya’s Wafula (4.12.95).

At 9.23pm, 2012 Olympic Games 800 metres bronze medallist Timothy Kitum will clash with 2014 Commonwealth Games gold medallist Nijel Amos of Botswana and reigning World Champion Mohamed Aman of Ethiopia.

Works is cut out for Kitum as he faces a formidable Amos, who has beaten Rudisha twice in the past.

Ferguson Rotich, who contributed to Kenya’s 4x800 metres team gold in the 2014 World Relays, Ferguson Rotich (142.84) and Job Kinyor (1.43.76) are also squaring it out in 800 metres.

After winning her first senior title at the Doha League meeting, Virginia Nyambura will be looking to excel again in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase race. She sensationally finished first in 9.21.51 in Doha after starting as a pace setter.

The 2012 World Junior championships 3000 metres steeplechase gold medallist Daisy Chepkemei (9.38.16), Hyvin Kiyieny (9.22.5), Purity Kirui (9.19.42) joins the fastest Kenyan starter Lydia Chepkurui (9.12.55).