Day of upsets at Kasarani: Big stars fall

What you need to know:

  • Zakayo, Kwemoi, Chebet light up national trials.
  • Big names Aprot, Tanui, Rotich fail to make team as new stars dare to flex their muscles.

Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui and Africa 10,000m champion Alice Aprot were major casualties when Kenya’s athletics team for Gold Coast Commonwealth Games was named on Saturday.

The going was also tough for the 2016 Diamond League 800m series champion Ferguson Rotich and 2014 World Junior 800m champion Alfred Kipketer who were locked out of the 800m team by a new order in the two-lap race.

Olympic and world 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto and world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri were the only athletes to get wild cards in their specialities.

The trials were explosive and witnessed new talent as some of the country’s fast-rising youngsters made their presence felt.

They are the world Under-18 3,000m silver medallist Edward Zakayo who won men’s 5,000m and world Junior 10,000m champion Rogers Kwemoi and 2015 World Under-18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandra  Chebet, who won men and women’s 10,000 races respectively.

World Junior 3,000m steeplechase champion Cellphine Chespol continued with her rise to win her race, beating Commonwealth champion Purity Kirui to second place.

After all the action, Athletics Kenya named a squad of 65 athletes and seven officials for the “Club” Games due April 4 to 15 in Gold Coast, Australia.

Tanui, who has won bronze medals in 10,000m at three previous World Championships, withdrew from the hotly contested 25-lap race race with 15 laps to go from a tendon injury.

Kwemoi injected pace in the last lap to win in 28 minutes and 46.5 seconds, beating the reigning Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Jonathan Muia to second place in 28:46.8.

Jonathan Bett settled for third place in 28:47.4 to seal the last place in the team for the “Club” Games.

“I had planned to test the field in the first five laps. I felt strong over the laps and it feels great to graduate to senior rank in style,” said Kwemoi, who has vowed to stop the Ugandans, who, have denied Kenya victory in the last three editions.

“We have a strong team following this great show.”

Muia is also determined to secure another victory, this time around, in the 25-lap race.

Chebet clocked 32:41.2 to triumph while claiming sweet revenge on Stacy Ndiwa, who beat her at the National  Cross Country Championships at Uhuru Gardens last weekend.

It was a thriller as Chebet went front at the bell but Ndiwa caught up with her with 300m to go.

However, Chebet stepped on her gas pedal at the 200m mark, to win her first major race as a senior.

Ndiwa came in second in 32:41.6 as Beatrice Mutai came in third in 32:44.7.9 to all qualify. Aprot withdrew with 13 laps to go with a congested chest. “I am so glad to represent Kenya for the first time in track as a senior,” said Chebet, who finished second during the National Cross Country Championships.