World braces for Kenya-Ethiopia battle in 10,000m

IN LONDON

The long-standing rivalry between Kenya and Ethiopia in distance running comes alive again Saturday night when the two nations battle in women’s 10,000m final here.

Hot on the heels of the men’s final Friday night, this should be another blockbuster.

Kenya’s World Cross Country Championships gold medallist Irene Cheptai who won the title in Kampala in March, her predecessor Agnes Jebet - who is also winner of the 2015 edition of the event in China - and Africa 10,000m champion Alice Aprot take the battle to Ethiopians as they seek to defend the title won by Vivian Cheruiyot at the 2015 championships in Beijing.

An interesting clash awaits the Kenyans with Ethiopian duo of Olympic champion over the distance, Almaz Ayana, and Tirunesh Dibaba, who is seeking her fourth world title, having scaled down from the marathon in which she made a sensational debut in London last April.

Kenya and Ethiopia have dominated the medals podium since 1997 in Athens when Sally Barsosio gave Kenya its maiden victory in the 25-lap race.

But it’s the Ethiopians who have had a lion’s share of successes, winning six editions with Kenya claiming four.

After Barsosio’s exploits, Ethiopia’s Gete Wami won back-to-back titles in 1999 and 2001 before Berhane Adere struck in 2003 followed by Dibaba in 2005 and 2007.

BROKE THEIR DOMINANCE

Linet Masai broke the Ethiopian dominance in 2009 (Berlin) and was followed by Cheruiyot in 2011 (Daegu) before Dibaba struck again in 2013 (Moscow).
Cheruiyot would stage an explosive return from maternity leave to win the 2015 Beijing edition.

With Cheruiyot having scaled up to marathon, the onus is now on Cheptai, who will be representing Kenya for the seventh time, Aprot and Jebet to deliver victory. It will be Cheptai’s second world championship, having finished seventh in the 5,000m in 2015 even though she finished seventh in 3,000m at the 2007 World Under-18 Championships.

Her four other global appearances have been at World Cross Country Championships where she finally struck gold in Uganda.

“This is my first time over the distance I and know it will be a bit challenging,” said Cheptai, who has a personal best of 31:15.38.

“It could be anybody’s race especially after having not seen the Ethiopians compete on track unlike before but we are determined to make Vivian proud.”

Cheptai ran 14:47.11 in 5,000m in June in Rome and 31:56.4 in 10,000m during the trials where she finished second behind Jebet in 31:56.0. Aprot noted that even though she has not trained well this year following her father’s death and training at Kenya Prisons College, she is up to the task.

“I’m sure Kenya will be happy with what I will get but I can’t promise the type of medal,” said Aprot, who finished fourth in 10,000m at the Rio Olympic Games where Ayana destroyed the opposition to break the long-standing world record.

Cheruiyot went for silver in the race with Dibaba, who was also making a comeback from a maternity break, going for bronze after Olympic victories in 2008 and 2012.

“I know my capability but I am sure we shall deliver if we are to embrace team work. Personally, I will be ready to sacrifice so long as we work as a team,” said Aprot, who has a personal best of 29:53.51 from Rio Olympics.

“I’m considering change of tact but that will depend on our rivals’ approach,” said the front-running Aprot.

Ayana, who will double in the 5,000m, has been struggling with injury all season that forced her to forego some Diamond League races. Ayana’s world record time of 29 minutes, 17.43 seconds from the Rio Olympics still makes her the favourite along with Dibaba, who is looking to claim her sixth gold medal at the world championships alongside her three Olympic titles on the track.

Dibaba too has not had track exposure this season, having only competed at the London Marathon, her maiden show over the distance, where she finished second in 2:17:56 in April.

World 5,000m silver medallist Senbere Teferi, who made a 30:41.68 debut at the distance in Hengelo in June, will back up Ayana and Dibaba.

World 10,000m bronze medallist Emily Infeld leads USA’s team that has the promising Molly Huddle and Emily Sisson while the European charge will be led by European 10,000m champion, Kenyan-born Yasemin Can from Turkey, and Bahrain’s Shitaye Eshete, a former Ethiopian.