The gruelling process of selecting the group of elite track and field athletes who will represent Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics comes to a close starting tomorrow. Athletics Kenya is conducting its three day national trials, in which track runners from 100m dash up to the 10,000 metres, as well as various field events, will compete for the right to fly Kenya’s flag at the Olympics in Tokyo next month.
It is a testament to the competitiveness of these national trials that, of Kenya’s four track gold medallists from the 2016 Olympics, only Faith Kipyegon (1500m women) and Conseslus Kipruto will even be at the trials to contest an opportunity to defend their titles. Conseslus Kipruto will be participating in the trials in spite of his ongoing legal troubles. A DNF at the most recent Diamond League race in Florence is also not a good omen. Defending 10,000m women’s Champion Vivian Cheruiyot will be contesting the marathon in Tokyo
The most notable absence from the start list is 800m World Record holder David Rudisha. The two time Olympic Champion has not raced actively since 2017, most recently citing a persistent hamstring problem. Instead the fastest man in the 800m men’s trial will be 2019 World Championships bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich.
Among the other Rio 2016 medallists in contention over the next three days, Hyvin Jepkemoi will contest the women’s steeplechase, 5000m Silver medallist Hellen Obiri, will lead a strong field in that race. Julius Yego will also begin his efforts to improve on his silver medal in Rio, at these trials. Among the fresh faces, there is World under 20 champion, Beatrice Chebet in the 5000m trials. in She has already impressed at the Diamond league in Doha, and will look o make a strong impression at the trials
As per Athletics Kenya, the top two finishers of the finals of each event, who have also met the official World Athletics standard within the qualifying period, and have also undertaken the mandatory Anti-doping workshop course set by Athletics kenya, will automatically get tickets to Tokyo. Athletics Kenya will then issue what amounts to wild card selections to various competitors across several events based on merit.
The only track and field event where Kenya’s representatives will not be selected at these trails are the men’s and women’s marathon. Kenya’s olympic representatives were selected in February. Defending champion, and world record holder Elid Kipchoge (2:01:39) will be joined by Lawrence Cherono (personal best 2:03:04) Amos Kipruto (2:03:30), and Vincent Kipchumba (2:05:09). The women’s team will be headlined by world record holder Brigid Kosgei (2:14:04), Peris Jepchirchir (2:17:16), Vivian Cheruiyot (2:18:31) and Ruth Chengetich (2:17:08)
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