By GILBERT WANDERA and Chris musumba
World silver medallist Sally Kipyego says she is not under pressure to win the Olympic trials in the 5,000m event.
Kipyego will compete in a strong field that also includes double world champion Vivian Cheruiyot and former world 10,000m champion Linet Masai.
But Kipyego who finished third in the 10,000m trials held last week and has already qualified for the Olympics in this event said she will take it easy today and will not be disappointed if she does not make it in the shorter of the two long distance races.
“My aim was to qualify for the Olympics and this has already happened in the 10,000m event and so there is no pressure to do well in the 5,000m. Running today for me is just an opportunity to compete with the top girls and to prove to myself that I can do it,”
“If I qualify well and good but it is not something I’m going to push myself so hard to achieve,” she said.
Kipyego has expressed disappointment at finishing third during the 10,000m trials at Kasarani and despite her views she would be greatly motivated to win.
However, both Kipyego and Cheruiyot will be seeking a slot in the 5,000m as well as Linet Masai, Sylvia Kibet, Grace Momanyi, Priscah Jepleting, Linet Chepkirui and Pauline Korikwiang.
Momanyi, the captain of Kenya team to Beijing Olympics, was humiliated after she carried the national flag into the opening ceremony only to be flushed out of Kenya team with Peninah Arusei taking her slot in the 10,000m race.
That is however water under the bridge and her focus will only be in qualifying for the Olympics in the 12-lap race.
However, Sylvia Kibet, the World Silver medallist, will be the athlete to watch in the team. Having raced in the shadows of Cheruiyot most of her career, Kibet might just get the inspiration to dethrone the Africa champion and claim the top spot.
In the 3,000m steeplechase, Milcah Chemos will be the athletes to beat. Chemo has won the World bronze medallist twice in Berlin and Daegu. However, when expected to step it up to gold in South korea last year, she faulted.
The Africa Champion is now focused on getting a ticket to her debut Olympics, having moved to the event four years ago. But she has Eunice jepkori, the Olympic silver medallist and Mercy Njoroge to contend with.
