Vivian energised for double in Rio Games
World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot (centre) and other athletes train at University of Eldoret grounds on Friday in preparation for next month’s Rio Olympic Games. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- New mum Dibaba, however, qualified for the Ethiopian Olympic 10,000m team.
- After the Olympics, Cheruiyot said she would start training for road race before graduating to the marathon next year.
- According to her husband-coach, Moses Kirui, Cheruiyot is stronger this year.
World record holder Tirunesh Dibaba’s failure to make the Ethiopian 5,000m team is a boost to World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot’s bid for a double at the Rio Olympics.
New mum Dibaba, however, qualified for the Ethiopian Olympic 10,000m team. During her attempt to go for the double in the 5,000m trials in Kortrijk, Belgium on Saturday, Dibaba clocked 14 minutes, 41.73 seconds, two tenths of a second outside the required time.
Consequently, world champion Almaz Ayana, Senbere Teferi and Yeshanesh Ababel make the Ethiopian 5,000m Olympic team.
Dibaba will team up with Ayana and Gelete Burka in the 10,000m with Cheruiyot having qualified for a double. Cheruiyot said her training has been going on well.
ROAD RACE
“I want to do my best by winning the two events before I start my new career on the road,” the 2011 double World champion told Nation Sport at a training session at Chepkoilel, Eldoret.
After the Olympics, Cheruiyot said she would start training for road race before graduating to the marathon next year.
At the London 2012 Olympics won silver and bronze in the 5,000m and 10,000m, respectively, before going for her maternity leave. Last year, she won gold in the 10,000m at the World Championships in Beijing.
According to her husband-coach, Moses Kirui, Cheruiyot is stronger this year.
“Cheruiyot is stronger compared to any other year that she has been running and I’m confident that she will do well in the two races,” said Kirui.
