Athletes managers cross fingers as their charges battle for slots

By Feverpitch Team

Foreign track and field agents managing Kenyan athletes have been burning the midnight oil to ensure their charges make the cut to the 14th IAAF World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, next month.

Italian agent Gianni Demadonna will parade a star-studded field.

World 1,500m silver medallist Silas Kiplagat (3:33.85), former Africa 10,000m champion Wilson Kiprop (27:01.98) and Olympic 5,000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa (13:03.58) in Rabat, Morocco, lead the elite line up.

Former Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Soi (13:02.54), who beat double Olympic champion Mo Farah in Eugene, spices up Demadona’s stellar cast.

Edwin Melly, who has 1:45.25 in 800m, he set in Poland, is another star to watch.

Gianni said: “I hope they will be able to join the team and hoping for medals at the World Championships but they have to qualify at the trials.”

But British Teddington-based Ricky Simms, who manages super star Usain Bolt, is keen to protect his turf.

Although he misses out double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot, who is expectant, he has  world Indoor champion Hellen Obiri.

“With Vivian Cheruiyot out of team, we have our strongest medal candidate this year, Hellen Obiri in 1,500m.  Her best time this year is 3:58.58 when she won the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene,” said Ricky.

Obiri, who competes for Kenya Defence Forces, won in Rabat and the national athletics championships.

Former world 10,000m champion Linet Masai, who is in his Pace Sports Management stable, is making good progress on her recovery from a calf injury she picked during the cross country season.