‘It is our time’

World Half marathon champion Wilson Kiprop has declared that time has come for them to end their failure in the 10,000m event.

Kiprop, one of the three members of the 10,000m team travelling to London for the Olympic Games, said they have identified their mistakes and remain confident they will bring homegold.

“We have finally understood why we have not been winning for all this years, but this remains our secret at the moment. Together with the coaches, we are working hard to correct these mistakes so that when the Olympics start we are in shape to bring home gold medal,” he said.

Kiprop, also a former champion, said teamwork will be key in achieving their goal and said they are working together in training so that gold does not elude them once again.

“The competition will certainly be tough considering the field at the Olympics, but we remain determined and focused and always willing to support each other. Whoever wins it will be the country that has won,” he said.

Bidan Karoki another member of the men’s 10,000m team echoed the same sentiments and said he will be fine so long any of the three Kenyans win the gold.

“We all feel that this is our time to bring the gold back home and our strategy will be to support each other. It does not matter who brings the gold home so long as it is one of us,” he said.

The 20-year-old Karoki is based in Japan and is excited to have been selected into the team after trials held in Oregon last month.

“It is always an honour to represent the country in any major championships and there is nothing bigger than the Olympics,” he said.

He went to Japan in 2007 and studied languages before landing a job with a food manufacturing company.

Kenya last won gold in the men’s 10,000m event in the 1968 Olympic games in Mexico.

National athletics coach Julius Kirwa declared on Wednesday that one of his missions in London is to end Kenya’s medal drought in the 10,000m and 5,000m events.

Kirwa is not happy that Kenyan men have not won gold in the 10,000m and 5,000m events at the Olympics for such a very long time

“It has been too long since we won the top prize in both races during international competitions like the Olympics or even the World Championships and it is a concern for me. This time we are very eager to win something and are all focused on achieving just that,” he said.

Kirwa further said he was confident the athletes have the ability to end Kenya’s long wait.

By GILBERT WANDERA