IT’S OLYMPICS D-DAY: Vivian, Kipyego and Aprot chase Rio slots tomorrow

Kenya's Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot celebrates winning the women's 10,000 metres athletics event at the 2015 IAAF World Championships at the "Bird's Nest" National Stadium in Beijing on August 24, 2015. AFP PHOTO

The chase for elusive women’s Olympic 10,000m medal begins tomorrow at 10am during the trials at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret.

World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, a silver (5,000m) and bronze (10,000m) medallist at the London Olympics, will lead Olympic silver medallist Sally Kipyego and newly crowned Africa champion Alice Aprot.

Vivian has bagged the biggest prizes in 5,000m and 10,000m and only misses the Olympic gold medal in which no Kenya has ever won.

She will take on US-based Betsy Saina, Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Sally Kipyego, Sally Kaptich, Gladys Chesir, 2008 world cross country junior silver medalist Irene Chebet Cheptai and former Africa cross country junior champion Caroline Chepkoech.

But Aprot, the world’s 10,000m woman of the moment, could pose a threat to the seasoned athletes, and even upset the rule book. She set a world leading 10,000m time and championships record of 30:26.9 in Durban on Saturday.

There is also Africa 10,000m silver medallist Jackline Chepng’eno, Amsterdam Marathon winner Joyce Chepkirui, 2006 world junior 3,000m champion Veronica Nyaruai and upstart Felista Macharia.

Cheruiyot said: “I really miss the Olympics. I have been been in serious training that include hill work, loading, gym, speed work and all that makes me remain in good shape.”

The battle between Olympic and two-time 800m champion David Rudisha and Ferguson Rotich, fourth at the Beijing Worlds in men’s semi-finals, will no doubt result in a dogfight, sending adrenaline levels running high.

But there will be no love lost in men’s 3,000m steeplechase race when two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi, 2008 Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto and former Olympic bronze medallist Paul Kipsiele Koech lead the chase for slots against youngsters in two-time world silver medalist Conseslus Kipruto.

Throw in Olympic bronze medalist Abel Mutai and US-based Haroun Lang’at and the lighthearted will tremble.

There is action galore in store for track fans in 1,500m semi-finals as three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop anchors the 1,500m line up alongside world silver medalist Elijah Manangoi, 2011 world silver medalist Silas Kiplagat and Commonwealth Games champion James Magut.

James Magut, Bethwel Birgen and Collins Cheboi are also among the 18 athletes with 3:36.20 standard qualification.

Alfred Kipketer (1:45.93), third in Shanghai and the reigning world junior champion and former Africa Youth champion Robert Biwott (1:45.84), Olympic bronze medalist Timothy Kitum, former Africa bronze medalist Jackson Kivuva, former world youth 400m hurdles silver medalist Jeremiah Mutai and former world youth champion Leonard Kosencha are also in the mix.

Elijah Kimitei, a member of the Commonwealth Games squad, will anchor the long jump charges while Africa champion Mathew Sawe will lead high jumpers.