Are golden eggs broken?

By Mutwiri Mutuota

At the beginning of the year, vast sections of the country were sobering up from what reporters termed Jelimomania.

It followed the almost superhuman efforts of the then 18-year-old Kaptamok village born Pamela Jelimo who rose from total obscurity to global stardom in the space of eight months.

After storming to the African women’s 800m title in late April 2008, Jelimo went on to single-handedly win the now defunct $1million (Sh74m) IAAF Golden League jackpot, set the world junior record (1:54:01), remained unbeaten in 13 races and above all, became the first Kenyan female athlete to win Olympic gold in Beijing.

Jelimo’s performance crowned the resurgence of female mid distance athletes who for years, had been in the shadows of their male counterparts. Nancy Jebet Lagat’s shock 1,500m Olympic win and further silver medals from Eunice Jepkorir (steeplechase) and Janeth Jepkosgei (800m) stressed the revival.

Misplaced optimism

As the year 2009 winds down, optimism that female mid distance athletes had come of age appears misplaced.

Save for Jepkosgei who recovered from being scorched by Jelimo to gallantly fight for silver at August’s Berlin Worlds and newcomer, Milka Chemos who ran to steeplechase bronze, other mid distance female exponents paled into the abyss.

Once again, Jelimo made headlines with a sensational breakdown that culminated in the unwanted statistic of Did Not Finish on the blue tartan track of Berlin’s Olympiastadion during the semi-finals of women’s 800m.

Jebet Lagat also saw her aspirations to add on to her Olympic title go up in smoke at the same track during the semis of her event as well. Viola Kibiwott and Irene Jelagat the other members of women’s 1,500m team did not fare well either.

As May ended, Athletics Kenya (AK) chairman, Isaiah Kiplagat, was pressed to admit there was a crisis in female mid distance running.

Of chief concern was the plummeting shape of Jelimo (who was said to have injured for two months at the beginning of the year) and Jebet Lagat who ran abysmally at their season opening races.

Jelimo sparked concerns by finishing sixth (2:02.46) and last (2:05.57) in Rabat and at the Pre Fontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon meetings in May. She recovered to win the KBC Night of Athletics (1:59.59) in Belgium before being led to the altar by Jepkosgei at the Berlin Trials.

Jebet Lagat opened her season with an eighth finish at the Qatar Super Grand Prix in May and her form did not peak thereon.

Therefore, as 2010 approaches especially with the country set to host the African Athletics Championships, it remains a mystery whether Kenya’s marquee mid distance female athletes will rediscover their 2008 form.