Glory so near for Kenyan athletes

By Mutwiri Mutuota

Only three meetings stand between Olympic winners, Nancy Jebet Lagat, Asbel Kiprop and Brimin Kipruto as well as African champions, David Rudisha and Milcah Chemos from a cut of IAAF Diamond League glory.

The two-day Avica London Grand Prix that sets-off on Friday and is part of the inaugural IAAF competition that replaced the IAAF Golden League will feature Lagat, Chemos, Kiprop and Kipruto with Rudisha expected to don his spikes at the final event in Brussels.

Lagat, Chemos and Rudisha have trail blazed the circuit this season besides adding the continental titles at home when Nairobi hosted the 17th African Athletics Championships.

Unbeaten Rudisha has amassed maximum 12 DL points so far; four clear of world champion, Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (South Africa) having won in Doha (1:43.00/14 May), Ostrava (1:44.03/27 May), Oslo (1:42.04/4 June) and Lausanne (1:43.25/8 July) and is almost guaranteed top spot.

Lagat sits at the summit of DL standings on 13, a healthy six points ahead of her Ethiopian rival, Gelete Burka. Her DL record reads wins in Doha, New York and Stockholm in addition to second (Eugene) and third (Lausanne).

Chemos has doubled the tally of nearest rival and compatriot, Gladys Jerotich (eight) having collected 16 with two competitions remaining to all but secure the Diamond Race. Chemos opened the DL season with second place in Shanghai, before stringing victories in Oslo, Rome and Eugene. Russian Yuliya Zarudneva forced her to second in Stockholm, last weekend.

The corresponding men’s event is the most closely contested in the entire DL competition with Kipruto tying with Athens 2004 bronze winner, Paul Kipsiele Koech at the top on nine points apiece.

Kipruto and Kipsiele are set to clash in London before the final round in Brussels, where eight points are up for grabs for victory.

Kiprop is well clear of Commonwealth 5,000m titleholder and compatriot Augustine Choge, having scored 14 DL points to the challenger’s seven.

A podium finish in London will certainly reward Kiprop with a Diamond Trophy created by Beyer, one of the oldest and most respected jewellers in the world and $40,000 (Sh3.2m) reserved for all DL winners.

Meanwhile, Kenya will contribute 12 athletes to Africa’s team for September’s IAAF Intercontinental Cup (formerly World Cup) in Split, Croatia.

Athletics Kenya (AK) general secretary, David Okeyo, said the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) had released the identities of athletes who will fly Africa’s banner at the September 4 and 5 intercontinental showpiece.