Floored Mo Farah seeks redemption at Commonwealth Games

PHOTO | LEON NEAL British athlete Mo Farah poses for photographs after completing the men's race in the 2014 London Marathon on The Mall in central London on April 13, 2014. Farahhas announced he will take part in the 2013 Commonwealth Games in Scotland.

What you need to know:

  • Augustine Choge is the last Kenya to have won the 5,000m at the 2006 Melbourne Games after Sammy Kipketer in 2002 Manchester and Daniel Komen in 1998 Kuala Lumpur.
  • Farah's agent, Ricky Simms, said his client had recovered well from last month's exertions at the London Marathon, where he finished in a disappointing eighth place in a race won by the Marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang.
  • Farah won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, beating Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel and Thomas Longosiwa, who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

Kenya had won three consecutive 5,000m men’s title at the Commonwealth Games until the 2010 Delhi Games where it relinquished the title to Uganda's Moses Kipsiro.

But are there hopes that Kenya will recapture the title especially after Olympic and World Champion Mo Farah declared he will be competing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games due July 23 to 25 in Glasgow, Scotland?

Augustine Choge is the last Kenya to have won the 5,000m at the 2006 Melbourne Games after Sammy Kipketer in 2002 in the Manchester Games and Daniel Komen in 1998 Kuala Lumpur.

ENDED SPECUALTIONS

Mo Farah ended months of speculation about his intentions for this summer by confirming that he will compete for England in the Commonwealth Games.

Farah confirmed his Commonwealth games entry on Twitter. "Hi guys! I will be running in the Commonwealth Games this year..!! See you in Glasgow..!! Shabba....!!" he wrote on his official Twitter account.

Farah's agent, Ricky Simms, said his client had recovered well from last month's exertions at the London Marathon, where he finished in a disappointing eighth place in a race won by Marathon record-holder Wilson Kipsang.

It now gives Kenyans food for thought especially for its medal hopefuls Isaiah Kiplagat, who won bronze at the 2013 Moscow World Championships, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa and 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Edwin Soi.

Athletics Kenya head coach Sammy Rono was reluctant to comment on Farah’s move saying he can only after having selected his team for Commonwealth Games.

“They only have Farah and we have a large pool of athletes to select our team from. Let us talk after we are through with our trials,” said Rono.

Farah won gold at the 2012 London Olympics, beating Ethiopian Dejen Gebremeskel and Thomas Longosiwa, who settled for silver and bronze respectively.

He would retain win the World title at the 2013 Moscow Worlds beating Hagos Gebrhiwet (Ethiopia) and Isaiah Koech (Kenya)n to second and third respectively.