OPERATION STOP MO FARAH
Athletics
By
Bismarck Mutahi in Rio de Janeiro
| Aug 13, 2016
Kenya’s 10,000m runners once again have one mission today, ‘try and stop Mo Farah.’
Even though World Half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor says their focus is not on the Olympic champion, the 10,000m final at the Olympics or the World Championships will always be about trying to stop the Briton.
“We are ready for the Olympics and will want to run our race as a team and hopefully win. Mo will not be our main focus,” Kamworor said at the Olympic Village on Thursday.
Kamworor ran against Farah last year at the World Championships in Beijing, China and despite the Kenyan pushing the Briton all the way, Farah still emerged the champion with his trademark last 50m kick.
However, during the World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Kamworor avenged the defeat as he led is compatriot Bedan Karoki to victory. Farah finished third.
Once again, Kamworor will be teaming up with Karoki and Paul Tanui today as they try to find a way past the Briton, who has always been a thorn in the flesh of Kenyans in both 10,000m and 5,000m.
“I feel I am in good shape and since I arrived here in Brazil, my focus has just been on today’s race. I hope we will work as a team to make sure we do well for Kenya.
“I know Mo will be a threat to us, but we have equally prepared well for him. But it is not only about him as there are other equally good runners who will want to win an Olympic title,” Kamworor said.
He said he has no injury concerns and despite the unpredictable weather patterns in Brazil, he is ready for anything.
“I have no problem with the weather because if it rains then all of us in the field will be affected,” Kamworor, who is also the World Cross Country champion, said.
Kamworor did not finish the 10,000m race at the Kenyan trials where the two-time world bronze medalist Tanui won.
Karoki also found the going tough at the national trials and also withdrew from the race midway, but Athletics Kenya selectors gave them wild cards and the task to stop Farah.
Former Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie also weighed in on today’s 10,000m saying it will not be easy for Farah.
“Mo Farah should know that other competitors have also prepared well for him and it will not be easy to successfully defend the Olympic crown,” Gebrselassie, who is in Rio to watch the Olympics told Feverpitch.
Apart from Farah, Kenyans will also face stiff challenge from Ethiopians Yigrem Demelash, Abadi Hadis and Tamirat Tola among other competitors.