KIYENG ITCHING FOR RIO GOLD: Kenyan women hunt for elusive 3,000m medal

The hunt for Kenya's first women Olympic 3,000m steeplechase gold medal starts next week during the national trials at Kipchoge Keino Stadium, Eldoret.

Eunice Jepkorir’s silver at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, stands out as the only water and barriers medal in Kenya’s Olympic trophy cabinet.

Having produced a brilliant show in the IAAF Diamond League meetings, world champion Hyvin Kiyeng will no doubt lead the chase for the missing jewel against strong opposition.

Kiyeng, an alumnus of athletics-rich Sing’ore Girls Secondary School in Keiyo North, will be up against a classy line-up that includes 2015 IAAF Diamond League Trophy winner Virginia Nyambura (9:21.15), world youth 2,000m steeplechase champion Rosefline Chepng’etich and 2013 world silver medalist Lydia Chepkirui.

Former world junior champions Caroline Tuikong, Purity Cherotich, Gladys Kemboi and 2007 All Africa Games champion Ruth Bosibori are also in the mix.

Kiyeng won in Shanghai and Olso and was second in Eugene Diamond League meeting –behind Kenyan-turned-Bahraini Ruth Jebet.

But the calibre of opposition that awaits the runner from Kocholwo village in Keiyo South does not seem to bother her.

“I have prepared well. I have enough experience since I first competed at the world championships in Moscow and I hope to give my best. My first task is to ensure I make the team and then plan from there. I know Kenyans will have a strong challenge from Bahrain, Ethiopia and Tunisia in the Olympics.”

Olympic and world silver medallist Habiba Ghribi of Tunisia and Ethiopia’s bronze medallist Sofia Assefa are also expected in the Samba nation conquest.

In Eugene Diamond League meeting last month, Jebet (8:59.97) and Kiyeng (9:00.01) posted best times, which makes them second and third fastest steeplechase runners in history.

On-the-comeback trail Bosibori is also keen to make amends, having disappeared off the radar since winning the IAAF World Athletics Final in Thessaloniki, Greece, in 2009.

Bosibori, who was tripped by a pacesetter while in training recently, said; “The injury is healing and hope to recover in time for the trials. My training is going well.”

Chepkirui (Lydia), who comes from Kericho, emerges from the woods, having finished seventh in Oslo in 9:32.48.

Gladys Kemboi, who won gold medal at the World Junior Championships in 2004, would be out to emulate her male neighbours back home in Marakwet, who have maintained a strong tradition of dominating the 3,000m steeplechase race.

Three-time world champion Moses Kiptanui, 2000 Olympic champion Reuben Kosgei and two-time Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi are among stars from the region.

But sibling rivalry between 2012 world junior champion Daisy Jepkemei and her sister Norah Jeruto, the 2011 World Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion, will offer a spectacular fight.

Africa cross country silver medallist Beatrice Chepkoech, Magdalene Masai, world youth sensation Celliphine Chepsol and new-catch Joan Chepkemoi are also itching for prized tickets to Rio. Athletics Kenya have drafted 18 athletes for the contest.