Mateiko, Chebet lead Team Kenya 10,000m squad to Paris
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 13.06.24. | 18:15
Kenya's only gold in the distance is from Naftali Temu at the Mexico Games in 1968 with the women yet to put their hands on one
He might be little known, especially on track, but his ticket to the Paris Olympics is ready.
Daniel Mateiko who won the men’s 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene which also served as the Kenyan trials for the 10,000m, in a thrilling finish, headlines Team Kenya to the Games in the distance.
He is joined by Nicholas Kimeli who finished fourth at the Tokyo Olympics and will be out to make amends with Bernard Kibet completing the trio that will carry Kenyan hopes of claiming the elusive title.
Athletics Kenya has announced its men’s 10,000m team for the Paris Olympics. 🇰🇪
— Chris Chavez (@ChrisChavez) June 13, 2024
Kenya went with their top three at their Trials selection race from last month’s Prefontaine Classic.
• Daniel Mateiko – 26:50.81 (World Lead) PB
• Nicholas Kipkorir – 26:50.94 PB
• Benard Kibet… pic.twitter.com/5zqY8JgOfm
The first and only Kenyan to bag gold in the distance at the Games is Naftali Temu in the 1968 Mexico Games.
To qualify, the 25-year-old clocked a world-leading and personal best (PB) time of 26:50.81 to win the race as Kimeli finished second in a PB of 26:50.94.
Mateiko has carved out an outstanding record over the half marathon distance which more than hints at his rich potential.
In 2019 he placed fifth over 10,000m at the Kenyan Championships before the following year triumphing in his home country at the Eldama Ravine Half Marathon.
Registering a 10,000m track PB of 27:03.94 in Hengelo in 2021 that year he also revealed his ability over the 21.1km distance by claiming third place finishes at both the Copenhagen (59:25) and Valencia (58:26) Half Marathons.
In 2022 he continued to impress, running 58:45 in Ras Al Khaimah and 58:40 in Valencia for another third-place finish. He also performed with pride on the track, finishing eighth in the 10,000m final at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene.
Last year he posted further sub-59-minute clockings in Ras Al Khaimah and Larne. In the latter race, he secured the top spot in 58:36.
The women’s team is headlined by world record holder, Beatrice Chebet, who became the first woman to run 10,000m in under 29 minutes at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.
She is joined by Lillian Kasait World Road Running 5km silver medalist and world bronze medalist in the distance Margaret Chelimo.
