Tough times ahead as Kenyans head for Rio to meet likes of Farah, Amos and Ghribi

Kenyans must brace themselves for tough battles in middle and long distance races at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from August 5-21.

From Botswana’s Olympic 800m silver medallist Nijel Amos and South Africa’s prodigy Caster Semenya, to Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah, Kenyans certainly have a mountain to climb in Rio. And after months of debate on whether they can stop the Briton at the Samba nation bonanza, Farah seems ready for the opposition.

On Saturday evening, he electrified a huge crowd at the Muller Anniversary Games, the 10th stop of the IAAF Diamond League Meeting, inside Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, as he chalked up a 5,000m victory in 12:59.29, the fastest time in the world this season.

He led Butchart Andrew (13:14.85), another home-boy, as America’s 41-year-old but evergreen Bernard Lagat finished third to set his 13:14.96 season best.

Isaiah Kiplang’at (13:15.44), the 2013 world bronze medallist, Americans Hill Ryan (13:15.59) and True Ben (13:16.63) trailed. Belgium’s Abdi Bashir (13:16.63), veteran Paul Koech (13:23.10) and Africa’s 10,000m champion Stephen Mokaka (13:23.66) of South Africa returned seventh, eighth and ninth as Cyrus Ruto (13:23.77) and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi finished 10th and 13th respectively.

“This was my last quick run before the Rio Olympics, which is right around the corner. But I am in good shape and I have to keep my feet on the ground as anything can happen in two and half weeks,” said Farah.

Kiplang’at, however, said they faced a stiff challenge against Farah.

“This man is really strong. It needs a lot of planning to beat him but I am sure we can do something in Rio,” said Kiplang’at.

He will marshal forces with world silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi and Joseph Yosei.

Nijel and London Diamond League winner Bosse Pierre-Ambroise are training their sights on the Hollywood script in the 800m against defending champion David Rudisha, world junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich.

Pierre-Ambroise and Nijel said they were ready for battle in Rio.

And Olympics 3,000m steeplechase champion Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia has fired warning shots to world champions Hyvin Kiyeng’, Beatrice Chepkoech and Lydiah Rotich Chebet ahead of the Rio Games.

Ghribi won the London meet in her season best time of 9:21.35 ahead of Garcia Stephanie (9:26.26) and Commonwealth Games champion Purity Cherotich.

Kiyeng won in Shanghai and Olso an was a runner-up in Eugene Diamond League meetings behind Kenyan-turned-Bahraini Ruth Jebet, another hot medal favourite.

World junior 800m champion Margaret Nyairera, world bronze medallist Eunice Sum and Winnie Chebet face a quality line up that includes Semenya and Burundi’s Francine Niyonsaba, the world indoor 800m champion, in Rio.

Chebet finished fourth behind America’s Ludlow Molly and home-girls Oskan-Clarke Shelayna and Lynsey Sharp in the London meet.