Ten Olympians book Rio tickets

Ten athletes will once again try their luck at Olympic glory after the explosive national trials concluded yesterday at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.

The ten led by Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi will join another 38 in trying to conquer the world at the Olympic Games set for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on August 5-21.

Apart from Kemboi others are Brimin Kipruto (3,000m steeplechase), Isaiah Kiplang’at (5,000m), Vivian Cheruiyot (5,000m and 10,000m), Bedan Karoki (10,000m), Julius Yego (javelin), Asbel Kiprop (1,500m) Faith Chepng’etich (1,500m), David Rudisha (800m) and Maureen Jelagat (400m hurdles).

Steeplechase maestros Kemboi and Kipruto will lead the charges as they head to the Olympics for their fourth time – after Athens (2004), Beijing (2008) and London (2012).

Kemboi longs to win his third Olympic title and stand out as the greatest steeplechaser of all time even as Kipruto longs to prove critics wrong and redeem his 2008 winning strategy.

The duo have two-time world silver medalist Conseslus Kipruto, who has staged good shows this season.

Three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop goes to the Olympics for the third time after Beijing and London outings while Cheruiyot and Kiplang’at make their second stab at the Olympics.

Asbel will be eyeing a second gold and also has the burden of chasing Kenya’s fifth 1,500m gold medal in history after Kipchoge Keino (1968), Peter Rono (1988) and Noah Ng’eny (2000).

Rudisha longs to defend his title he won in a world record time of 1:40.91 in London.