Kwemoi eyes Africa Cross Country title and first Olympic gold

Newly-crowned National Cross Country champion Rodgers Kwemoi is plotting to kill two birds with one stone this year. The Japan-based athlete who humbled defending champion Kibiwott Kandie and other seasoned athletes in the championships held on Saturday at the Ngong Racecourse has set his sights on claiming the continental title set for March 7 in Togo as well end Kenya’s 53-year long wait for an Olympics gold in 10, 000m.

The Commonwealth bronze medalist over the distance lifted the lid on his intentions to triumph in the two races even though he anticipates his bid will be severely put to test by compatriots and experienced athletes from other countries.

The former world U-20 champion who finished fourth during his senior debut in Doha in 2019 brimmed in confidence that the Kenyan team to the Olympics will break the more than five-year-old win-less jinx courtesy of the superb preparations. Kenya lastly won a 10 000m gold in 1968 through Naftali Temu

“I am now focusing on winning the Africa Cross Country Championships as well as the 10,000m in the Tokyo Olympics. The Kenyan team has prepared well for the Olympics and this time around coasting to victory is a sure bet,” he said

Prior to the nationals, the rivalry between Kandie and three-time World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor was the talk of time but Kwemoi flipped the script. The 23-year old revealed his strategy to remain hot on the heels on the pre-race favorites until the last lap was his secret weapon.

“I was feeling weak in the first lap but I regained strength in the subsequent one. My plan was to remain behind and explode in the final lap and I am happy it worked. Even though I knew I would win the race, I was aware ‘kicking’ early would spell doom to my chances of winning,” he added