Kwemoi predicts clean sweep over 1,500m in Rio

The focus in Kenya’s 1,500 metres prospects has been tilted heavily towards world champion Asbel Kiprop and silver medallist Elijah Manangoi.

And for the right reasons as the pair has dominated both the local and international circuit.

But enter new kid Ronald Chebolei Kwemoi and some feel the balance could shift in Rio. Especially with Kwemoi having sounded intention at the recent Herculis Diamond League meeting in Monaco where he upstaged the veteran Kiprop and his protégé Manangoi, winning his first race on the road in a season’s best time of three minutes, 30.49 seconds.

Olympic champion Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria and Britain’s double world champion Mo Farah were the other casualties that night. After a poor showing in the 2012 London Olympic Games, Kenya is not only targeting the gold, but a possible podium sweep.

Kwemoi’s personal best is an impressive 3:28.81 and by taking the third position at the Olympic trials in Eldoret last month, he earned his ticket to Rio.

Kwemoi said winning the Monaco race is proof that his preparations to the Olympics Games which he expects to do well.

“After winning the Monaco race, which is a good sign for me, my goal now is to train more and make sure I get to the finals during the Olympics Games next month in Rio,” said Kwemoi after training in Eldoret on Wednesday.

Kwemoi is based in Japan where he says they do a lot of speed work which helped him back home during the trials. He says that is why many Japan-based athletes do well.

“We do a lot of training on speed work and that’s why most Japan based athletes do well when it comes to trials or any other competition in Kenya,” said Kwemoi.

“I was very happy after getting a slot in the Kenyan team and will be looking forward to get to the finals so that we can team up and sweep all the medals on offer,” said the athlete who hails from Mt Elgon.

“It takes four years for Olympics Games to be held and my dream was to be in the team. I really trained hard because of this year and I’m happy I made it to the team,” said the athlete.

He adds that it feels nice running with world champion Kiprop and he is looking forward to replacing him in the near future.

Kwemoi is also confident that in two years’ time, he will break the world record in the 1,500 metres. Kwemoi first surfaced in 2013 when he represented Kenya in World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland, finishing ninth.