Kipchoge’s heroic performance inspires Kenya’s athletics stars
Eliud Kipchoge
By
Dennis Okeyo
| Oct 13, 2019
After Eliud Kipchoge successfully ran the under two hours, in Vienna, Austria yesterday, Kenya’s athletics stars were inspired by the achievement.
Former world champion Elijah Manangoi hailed the achievement, considered one of the ultimate milestones in athletics performances, and said the feat had inspired him to attack Hicham El Guerrouj’s 1,500m world record that was set in 1998.
“This is amazing performance by Kipchoge and I’m privileged to watch and witness history being made. This guy is just great. He’s on a whole different level of running. I’m equally inspired to try and run 1,500m in three minutes and 25 seconds,” said Manangoi, who missed out the Doha World Championships due to ankle injury.
Timothy Cheruiyot, the newly crowned world 1,500m champion who was driving from his home in Singorwet in Bomet to Eldoret and was forced to make several stops to follow Kipchoge's race on the Internet, felt that Kipchoge’s run has inspired not only sports enthusiasts but the whole mankind.
“I’m truly inspired by the great performance, I believe with dedication and focus anything is achievable in life. Kipchoge is such a running machine,” said Cheruiyot.
Hellen Obiri, who successfully defended her 5,000m world title, also believes women’s marathon can be lowered to 2 hours 13 minutes in the near future.