Kipyegon ready to defend her Olympics gold

Fresh from setting a new national record in 1500m, Faith Kipyegon was unrivalled as she clocked 4:02.10 for victory in the distance at the Athletics Kenya (AK) Olympics trials held at Kasarani on Thursday, June 17. 

It was an easy win for the Olympics 1500m gold medalist, Kipyegon, who ran 3:53.91 at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea Diamond League (DL), in Florence, to set her personal best and a national record. The DL meet was won by Sifan Hassan in 3:53.63. 

Africa Champion Winny Chebet clocked 4:04.62 for second place while World Under-18 1500m silver medalist Ednah Jebitok completed the podium finishes in 4:05.54. 

"I am happy with today's race, all I wanted was to win the race and book the ticket to Tokyo. It was an easy race because I am in great shape, coming off a personal best setting race a few days ago. I did not expect to lower my time in Florence and it was really good racing against Sifan Hassan. The PB has given me the morale to push for a better showing at the Olympics. 

"I know the battle in Tokyo will be tough, with Hassan and the other strong Ethiopian runners expected to be in the race but we need to work as a team and get better in endurance and speed. I also have the time for 800m but we have not had the conversation with my management on whether I can double," said an elated Kipyegon. 

Meanwhile, 400m women's national record holder Hellen Syombua won heat of the race in 53.36 ahead of Gladys Musyoki (53.69) and Maureen Thomas (54.23) in the fastest of the two semi finals. National Police Service's Joan Cherono won the other semi final in 54. 33 ahead of Veronica Mutua who clocked 54.60. 

Syombua who has already booked her slot to the Summer Games says her focus is on reaching the 400m final in Tokyo. 

"It was a tough race today owing to the weather. It is hard for any sprinter to make the qualifying times under such weather and I did not run the time I had purposed to. I have had some injury challenges but now I can feel my body responding to training. In previous races I have struggled in the final 100m but today I felt I did better and only the last 50m need some work now as I am losing precious seconds on that stretch," said Syombua. 

In men's 5000m, Daniel Simiyu used the disappointment of missing out in the 2019 World Championships, due to non-comliance with anti-doping requirements, as ammunition to win heat one of the two semi finals in a time of 13:33.55 and set the pace for the final. Nicholas Kipkorir won the other semi final in 13:54.42. 

"My intention was to finish first and get that slot to the final and that's what pushed me to just run my own race and leave the leading pack with five laps to go and hold on for the win. 2019 was a rough year for me as I was thirsty to represent my country but I couldn't. I almost quit track running but my coach and management convinced me to keep going. As we head to the final I hope have good health them we will see what happens," said Simuyu. 

In the 800m semis Emmanuel Korir beat Ferguson Rotich for the win in heat one while Michael Saruni won the second heat ahead of Elias Ngeny who, during the Olympics pre-trials ran the world leading time in the distance.