Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Star Reporter
13 July 2011
At least 10 Japan-based athletes are expected in the country for the national athletics trials this week.
According to Japan-based coach Stephen Mayaka, the athletes are keen to qualify and represent the country at the neigbouring Daegu, South Korea for the World athletics Championship. The event is being sponsored by National Bank.
Coincidentally, most of the Japan-based runners will be seeking places in the 10,000m team. Paul Tanui and Biden Karoki leads the Japan brigade for the trials. The two are currently enjoying top form, with Tanui having already run 26:50.63 over the distance. Tanui posted the time during the Nike America Grand Prix in June. Karoki has equally been impressive and has run 27:11 minutes over the distance. He has also run 13:11 in 5,000, making him one of the favourites for the 10,000m.
The two will be joined by other Japan-based runners including Josphat Ndambiri and former world 10,000m bronze medallist Martin Irungu Mathathi. World junior 10,000m silver medallist Clement Langat and John Thuo (27:22:00) are also in the Japan line-up. However, another hot favourite Job Mogusu will not honour the event as he has already committed to another race.
Mayaka said Mogusu will compete at the Hakkaido Marathon.
The Japanese 10,000m runners will, however, have to contend with the world Half Marathon champion and Africa 10,000m champion Wilson Kiprop, who is being touted as a hot favourite.
In the women’s category, the Japanese legion will have Sally Chepyego and Ann Kalindi. Chepyego will team up with Philes Ongori in the women’s 10,000m while Kalindi will run in the 1,500m, alongside another Japan-based Mary Muthoni. While Chepyego will be bidding to make the Kenya 10,000m team, Ongori who is already in the country will use the event as a build-up for marathon, where she has already made the team.
Meanwhile, Seychelles and Uganda are also bringing their sprinters and field athletes for the trials. Seychelles will have a full team of 50 athletes while Uganda will have 15 athletes, mostly sprinters. The two countries, according Athletics Kenya (AK) public relations officer, Peter Angwenyi are using the event to gauge their strength. Others countries to feature in the event are Sudan, Mali, Malawi and Zambia.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Follow this link:
Kenya: Japan-Based Stars Arrive for Trials