Coaches to blame for poor show in 5,000m

Poor team selection has been blamed for Kenya’s dismal show in men’s 5,000m –where there will be no Kenyan in the finals for the first time since 1960 Olympics in Rome, Italy.

World silver medalist Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi, 2013 world bronze medalist Isaiah Koech Kiplang’at and Africa cross country bronze medalist Charles Yosei lined up for Kenya.

Mr Mwangangi said: “I have had an injury which has hampered me from training well for these and that’s why I did not perform well in the competition.”

But Thomas Longosiwa, the London Olympics 5000m bronze medalist, blamed team selection for the poor show. “I was recalled to the team. I thought these coaches had evaluated my performance but I was surprised to learn that they had made up their mind to enter Charles Yosei in 5,000m and earn two wild cards to Bedan Karoki and Geoffrey Kamworor.”

“I am not surprised that they did not make to the final. Look at their performance this season. Caleb Mwangangi finished 10th in Eugene (Diamond League) and never competed in any meeting while Isaiah Koech Kiplang’at finished fourth in London in 13:15, where Mo Farah won in 12:59. That’s a wide gap,” said Longosiwa.

“There is bribery and money exchanging among athletes and selectors, especially in this 5,000m race. How could they give 10,000m race two wild cards where as it is usually one,” said an athlete, who requested anonymity for fear of victimisation.

Daniel Komen, former world 5,000m champion said: “It was just like allowing a quack doctor to do diagnosis and administer drugs to a patient. We had a weak team and handicapped coaches.”