Uganda's Chemutai coming to town after snatching Kenya's steeplechase crown

Botswana’s sprint sensation Issac Makwala and highly rated Ugandan girl who ‘stole’ the women 3000m steeplechase from Kenyan girls at the Tokyo Olympic Games Peruth Chemutai are expected in the country tonight for Saturday’s hotly billed Kip Keino Classic.

Makwala faced off with Kenya’s sprint novelty Ferdinand Omanyala in South Africa last month in a race the African record holder won comfortably. Makwala seemed a little behind in his training schedule then but has nonetheless decided to take the ‘war’ to Omanyala’s doorstep.

The athletics jamboree in Kasarani has attracted top names with the entry of Chemutai into the women 3000m steeplechase mix adding heat to the already electric aura.

Chemutai’s progression has been fascinating from the youth groups to steeplechase pinnacle. She won the World Under 20 silver medal in Tampere, Finland 2018 in a time of 9:18.87 behind Kenya’s Celliphine Chespol who claimed gold in a championship record time of 9:12.79.

The Ugandan then embarked on a consistent appearance in the Diamond League circuit and other high profile races where she gradually honed her prowess while understudying the dominant Kenyans.

Chemutai could only muster 5th-place finish in 2018 Africa Athletics Championships in Asaba, Nigeria and also stared from a distance in Doha, Qatar as medals were issued to podium finishers in the Athletics World Championships 2019.

She had, again finished 5th as Beatrice Chepkoech raced to a championship record to claim gold ahead of highly rated American Emma Coburn and German Felisitas Kraus.

But she was not to be denied in Tokyo when she timed her run to perfection, mesmerizing pre pace favorite Hyvin Kiyeng who ended up picking bronze behind industrious American Courtney Frerichs.

Chemutai will be in the company of compatriots Halima Nakayi and Winnie Nanyondo, two-lap specialists on a plane arriving early Thursday morning.

Makwala will follow much later to ramp up the sprinting fever that has attracted reigning Olympic champions Marcel Jacobs of Italy and Fred Kerley of the USA.