Jelimo skips event, no dope tests to be done

By Omulo Okoth and Gilbert Wandera

Olympic 800m women’s champion Pamela Jelimo’s will miss the National Championships starting tomorrow at Nyayo National Stadium, which effectively locks her out of the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea.

The 22-year-old (pictured) has never recovered her phenomenal form that saw her win 2008 African title, World junior record (1:54:01), Olympic title and wrapping up the season by single-handedly winning the US$1 million IAAF Golden League jackpot.

Her manager Barnabas Korir said Jelimo, who was Kenya’s first women Olympic champion, has skipped the National Championships that will also be the World Championships trials due to injuries that have dogged her.

“She has had a string of injuries which has frustrated her return to top form. However, our focus is more on the Olympic title defence next year,” Korir told FeverPitch.

Athletics Kenya Secretary General David Okeyo was more forthright.

“We all know that Jelimo has not had a good season. Once she skips the National Championships, there is no way we can consider her for the World Championships,” said Okeyo.

“I am not privy to reasons for her bad performances, but I am just as concerned as other Kenyans. I hope she recovers in time to defend her Olympic title,” said Okeyo.

Meanwhile, Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said doping tests will not be done before Thursday’s national trials.

Kiplagat said a delay in ordering the equipment for that purpose has forced them to cancel the exercise, which is obligatory for any major event.

“We realised too late that we needed to order the equipment from South Africa. We hope that those who are selected will be fine,” he said.

But Kiplagat said the IAAF may conduct random tests on those who will make the Kenyan team prior to the team’s departure for the World Championships in South Korea.

He clarified that all athletes who have qualified must take part in the trials to get a place in the Kenyan team.

“The rules are very clear. There will be no direct entry into the team. The first two across the line will earn automatic places in the team and the third will be picked through a wild card by our team of selectors,” he said.

Kiplagat said only the defending champions may be considered for automatic entry in the team, but they must take part in the trials.

He said the trials will act as selection for both the World Championships and the All Africa Games.

“The World Championships will have about 40 athletes, while the African Games team will have 44 athletes. We will also consider those who want to double up in some events,” he said.

However, another hot favourite Job Mogusu will not honour the event as he has already committed to another race.

Mayaka said Mogusu will compete at the Hakkaido Marathon.

The Japanese 10,000m runners will, however, have to contend with the world Half Marathon champion and Africa 10,000m champion Wilson Kiprop, who is being touted as a hot favourite.

In the women’s category, the Japanese legion will have Sally Chepyego and Ann Kalindi. Chepyego will team up with Philes Ongori in the women’s 10,000m while Kalindi will run in the 1,500m, alongside another Japan-based Mary Muthoni. While Chepyego will be bidding to make the Kenya 10,000m team, Ongori who is already in the country will use the event as a build-up for marathon, where she has already made the team.

Meanwhile, Seychelles and Uganda are also bringing their sprinters and field athletes for the trials.

Seychelles will have a full team of 50 athletes while Uganda will have 15 athletes, mostly sprinters. The two countries, according Athletics Kenya (AK) public relations officer, Peter Angwenyi are using the event to gauge their strength. Others countries to feature in the event are Sudan, Mali, Malawi and Zambia.