Kemboi to switch to marathon after London Olympic Games

 

Athletics Kenya team manager Joseph Kinyua said they will not deny athletes who have qualified for the Olympic Games a chance to compete in the Diamond League meetings prior to travelling to London.

“We understand that there are some athletes who may want to compete in other events between now and the Olympic Games. Every athlete case will be treated differently. There will be no mass releases as we will look at the merit of each case,” he said.

Kinyua, who is also the AK treasurer, at the same time, said he is glad that most of the athletes have reported to camp and serious programme will start after two days.

“We expect all athletes to be at State House this morning then after that we may give those who want two days off before training starts,” he said.

Olympic 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop is one of the athletes who has confirmed his entry at the Paris Diamond League meeting on July 6.

“I have completed the most difficult task in my campaign to London. That is to qualify for the Olympics. Now the focus should be on training. I have done enough endurance tests in Eldoret. Now I have to step up on my speed, which will be crucial in winning at London.

Paris docket

“I will run the 800m race in Paris, then I may have another race before returning home for the final preparation,” said Kiprop.

Meanwhile, World 3,000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be switching the gears up to the marathon distance after the London Olympic games.

Kemboi said he is switching to marathon next year after more than ten years on the track. He says he wants to finish on a high in London.

Decade experience

“I have been running this race for almost 12 years and for me London is my last destination on track. I intend to switch to marathon next year,” he said.

Kemboi said he wants to win gold in London, which will be his second after he won it in Athens. There are several youngsters keen to deny him this chance but Kemboi is confident he will prevail.

“It’s not going to be easy. The young athletes are coming through, but I want to do my best and leave the track a winner,” he said.

Kemboi finished second, behind Brimin Kipruto, the Olympic champion, but is not bothered about it because he was only keen to make the Olympic team. The 30-year-old Kemboi became African Junior champion in 2001, but his star began to shine a year later when he won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games.

This was followed by a gold medal in the 2003 All Africa games, silver at the World Athletic Championships held in Paris and an Olympic gold medal a year late in Athens, Greece. He won 2006 Commonwealth Games but the 2008 Olympic was his worst as he finished seventh.