‘Rabbit’ Sein to wave magic wand in virtual race

Rongai Athletics Club Elijah Manang'oi (in white) leads Timothy Sein, Edwin Melly and Timothy Cheruiyot (right) in training at Nyayo National Stadium on May 26, 2020. The team was training for 2, 000m virtual race between Team Cheruiyot and Team Ingebrigtsen of Norway. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Sein’s “Team Cheruiyot”  has the reigning world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2017 world 1,500m champion Elijah Manang’oi who is also the reigning Commonwealth champion,  Africa Under-18 1,500m champion Vincent Keter and Edwin Melly
  • The 32-year-old Sein said his team matesmay have resumed training just a month ago, having been kept out of competition by the Covid-19 pandemic, but he is confident that they will carry the day

Timothy Sein’s work in the virtual Maurie Plant Memorial Race on Thursday will be simple: Take the pack through the fast two laps of the 2,000 metres race in 56 to 57 seconds, and drop out after 1,000m.

He is rabbit charged with taking “Team Cheruiyot” through the pace before dropping out at the 1,000m mark as the Kenyans battle “Team Ingebrigtsen.”

Sein’s “Team Cheruiyot”  has the reigning world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2017 world 1,500m champion Elijah Manang’oi who is also the reigning Commonwealth champion,  Africa Under-18 1,500m champion Vincent Keter and Edwin Melly.

“Team Ingebrigtsen” will comprise of Ingebrigtsen brothers, and will run at the Bislett Stadium in Oslo, Norway. “Team Cheruiyot” will be at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi.

European 1,500m and 5,000m champion Jakob, Henrik and Filip form “Team Ingebrigtsen.”

They will be joined by two other athletes to make a team of five. “I need to take the pack through the fast two laps of the race at an average time of 56 to 57 seconds before going out after 1,000m.

“It’s not easy but we are ready for the task,” said Sein, who has personal best of two minutes, 17.60 seconds over 1,000 metres.

The 32-year-old Sein said his team matesmay have resumed training just a month ago, having been kept out of competition by the Covid-19 pandemic, but he is confident that they will carry the day. “The situation has been different in Oslo. I am told the Ingebrigtsens have been training all through and are in top form,” Sein, who is yet to make a breakthrough on the international scene, said.

Sein has predicted a winning time of 4:50 or below, owing to the training they have so far received. Sein has twice participated at the national trials — for the 2012 London Olympics and 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics — but fell short in the 800m.
World 800m record holder, David Rudisha, went on to win gold in both editions of the Summer Olympic Games.

“I sustained an injury after the 2012 London Olympic trials, which locked me out for three years.  The injury recurred after the 2016 Rio Olympic trials in Eldoret,” said Sein, who went to Eldoret with one of the fastest times that season of 1:45.48. The time still remains his personal best.

Sein still habours hopes of representing Kenya for the first time. He has trained his sights on qualifying for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, and the Africa Championships.

“I am not yet done. I consider myself wine that grows better with age,” said Sein.

SEIN'S PROFILE

Name: Timothy Sein

Date of Birth: February 1, 1988

Club: Rongai Athletics Club

Personal Best: 800m (1:45.48), 1,000m (2:17.60)