Tergat and Ngugi finally celebrate end of jinx

• It has been 11 long and agonising years of waiting for the senior men’s gold

No one knows better how agonising it has been watching the Belgian, Ethiopian and Eritrean rivals devour Kenyans in cross country running over the last 11 years than John Ngugi and Paul Tergat.

For the two cross country greats - each winning five world titles - 11 years have been long and painful.

However, the two legends can now lie back and relax after what they described as a long-over due victory in the senior men’s 12 kilometre race by compatriot Joseph Ebuya at Sunday’s 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

But they regret that they were not part of those historic moments in Bydgoszcz, Poland, when Ebuya finally reclaimed the title Kenya last won in 1999 through the 39-year-old Tergat at the end of a record-setting five straight wins in Belfast, Ireland.

Clean sweep

Tergat could not hold back his joy as he watched Sunday’s race from Cape Town as the Kenyan team obliterated its opponents for a clean sweep of both the individual and team titles.

Interestingly, both Tergat and Ngugi expected the clean sweep considering the high morale and intensive but well coordinated pre-competition training at Kigari, Embu.

For Tergat, it was double joy as on Monday, he was conferred with a Honorary Doctorate at the University of the Western Cape.

“It (Kenya’s victory) was spectacular and historic,” said Tergat by telephone. “That is the way to go although it was long over due.”

“I am really happy that, at least, I will be a happy man even if God is to decide to call me now since someone has taken the cross country baton from me,” the ecstatic Tergat said.

1999 memories

Tergat said it has been hard and difficult not only for him but the country as a whole. Tergat reminisces that Ebuya’s win brought back the 1999 memories from Belfast.

Ngugi said he was proud of the team for erasing the pain.

“I told the team during a dinner party that myself, Tergat and (another previous winner) William Sigei were never born champions. It’s hard work and easy fight that produce conquerors,” Ngugi said.

Ngugi, 48, said the fear for Ethiopians, especially six-time champion Kenenisa Bekele, is what caused the 11-year dry spell.