CHERONO, NDIKU TO LIGHT UP TRIALS: Stylish Mercy and Mwangangi in final touches ahead of 5,000m races
Athletics
By
JONATHAN KOMEN
| Jun 27, 2016
Beauty looks and embellished hairstyles will light up men's and women's 5,000m races during the Olympic trials in Kipchoge Stadium in Eldoret on Thursday and Friday.
Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Mercy Cherono's pretty appearance in her typical hairdo sporting colours of the Kenyan flag brings back memories of 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, where world's sporting enthusiasts cooed with envy as the beauty queen headed to the start line.
Cherono is drop-dead gorgeous in her running kit and when marched with Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi's mohawk and dyed hair, the crowd in Kipchoge Keino Stadium will surely be ready to enjoy the other side of the athletes.
But Mwangangi, the man of 'swag' or 'Buffalo' as he is known in athletics circles, has raced in one Diamond League since competing at the IAAF World Indoor Championships in Eugene, USA, last March.
He has opted to pitch tent in Iten, perhaps plotting to bring down Britain's double Olympic champion Mo Farah, who beat him to silver at last year's World Athletics Championships in Beijing.
Mwangangi has always fired warning shots to Ethiopians, the bane of Kenyan runners in long distance running, claiming victories in Africa 1,500m Championships, World Indoor 3,000m and Commonwealth Games 5,000m. The world will be keen to watch him battle for the Rio Olympic Games ticket.
He will take on Olympic bronze medalist Thomas Longosiwa, 2008 Olympic bronze medalist Edwin Soi, 2013 world silver medalist Isaiah 'chairman' Kiplang'at and Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Jonathan Ndiku Muiya.
"I am in barber shop here in Iten. I want to shave a bit to appreciate my fans," Mwangangi told FeverPitch by phone.
Longosiwa, third in Shanghai (13:01.69) and fourth in Eugene (13:02.91), longs to return to the Olympic Games.
"So far, so good. I am in my top form. I am waiting for the day. I am focused on making the team first and plan from there on. I just hope for a good race," said Longosiwa.
Soi finished fifth in Eugene (13:03.26) and ninth in Shanghai (13:07.68), while Kiplang'at finished ninth in Eugene (13:08.34) and fifth in Oslo (13:10.18).
Apart from Mo Farah, Kenyans will battle Ethiopia's Muktar Edris, winner in Shanghai (12:59.96) and Eugene (12:59.43).