World Cross Country silver medallist Karoki and Kamworor to face off in trials

Bedan Karoki wins the 12km senior men race during the IAAF Permit/KCB National Cross Country Championship at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on 14-02-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

World Cross Country silver medallist Bedan Karoki hopes his left leg will have enough stamina to weather the storm during the explosive national trials to select the team to the World Championships.

Karoki, 24, will be aiming to make the team to the premier track and field competition for the second time, after finishing sixth in the 10,000m at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow. However, a left leg tendon injury has limited his performance this season.

“I got injured in April and I have had to endure two months in the medical rooms, but I am happy it has now eased and I have started training.

“I hope it will be strong enough to challenge for the ticket to Beijing and I want to finish in the top two slots,” he said on telephone from Nyahururu.

Karoki has competed in one race after he recovered from injury, despite finishing second at the World Cross Country Championships in March in Guiyang, China. He ran in Lausanne Diamond League meeting on July 9 and was sixth clocking 13:21.26 in a race that was won by Britain’s Mo Farah.

“I believe for a first race of the season, I did really well. I ran just the way I wanted but I lacked the final kick, which saw the others taking advantage to beat me,” he said.

But the Olympian, who was fifth at the 2012 Olympics in London, is certain to make the team come what may on July 31. Karoki won a silver medal in the 10,000m at the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo, despite losing the trials, eventually gaining selection as a wild card.

But he must be at his best to challenge the combative Geoffrey Kamworor and Leonard Barsoton and World 10,000m bronze medallist Paul Tanui.

Kamworor, who has pitched camp in Kaptagat in Eldoret, hopes he will make the team and have a second chance to dethrone Farah.

“For me the trial is a formality. The type of challenge I will get will be strong, but I will take it in my stride,” he said.