Peter Njenga
28 June 2004
Nairobi — Although 33 athletes have already been confirmed for the Olympic Games in Athens, plans are underway to try to get many more to attain the qualifying standards.
The first stop in this regard is the Congo Brazzaville Africa Championships from July 8.
This continental championships is of special significance for a number of athletes selected on Saturday, notably Charles Kamathi and Nicholas Kemboi. Whoever finishes ahead of the other will get the third slot in the 10,000 metres Olympics team.
Kamathi finished third in the trials but 300m behind winner John Korir, putting his form in doubt. Kemboi pulled out a few days to the trials after injuring his knee according to a spokesperson from his management agency Di Madonna International.
He is to undergo a physical test in the coming days. If he is fully recovered, he will be entered in the continental team.
Ezra Sambu who has already qualified for the Olympics will compete in two international meetings at San Sebastian, Spain July 3 and Zurich three days later, before flying to the Congo where he will link up with Vincent Mumo and Victor Kibet for more competition.
Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo says Kenya is planning to enter a 4x400 relay team in the Olympics and this would be selected in Congo. One hurdler could also be entered since the deadline for attaining the Olympics qualifying standard is July 31.
All those selected during the trials are to report today at Riadha House for documentation.
Kamathi who will compete in a yet to be decided race in Europe said he is willing to convince the selectors that he is fit and raring to go to Athens.
Negotiations are on with Nike to sponsor a training camp for some athletes in Italy where a Kenyan coach would be seconded to follow the athletes on the European circuit according to Isaiah Kiplagat the AK chairman.
Meanwhile AK have given the marathon runners a free hand in their training programme since they have always managed themselves and produced results.
World champion Catherine Ndereba who finished second in the Lewa Down Marathon has chosen the Sapporo Half Marathon mid next month as her last race before proceeding to Philadelphia, United States where she will remain until the Olympics. Managed by Lisa Buster, Ndereba has been training in Nairobi and used the Kenya Prisons and Kenya national championships as part of her training.
Her compatriot Margaret Okayo is already in Brescia, Italy under Gabrielle Rosa, her Italian doctor and coach who has produced about 80 percent of all winners of big city marathons.
Alice Chelangat, winner of the Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is currently training in Kericho but will soon be travelling to Italy for intensive training.
Olympics silver medallist Eric Wainaina was given permission to remain in Japan because of the stringent residency rules which compel foreign athletes based in Japan to live there for 180 days before being allowed to travel abroad.
The second fastest marathoner Sammy Korir is in Kericho at the moment and will wind up in Malpensa, Italy, from where he will cross over to Athens. He will compete in the annual Peachtree road race in Atlanta on July 4.
But Paul Tergat will remain at home preferring to continue training in the Noon Hills. He will leave for Athens with the rest of the contingent on August 6.
But as the Olympics get underlay, the women have been left out. Only seven have been booked tickets for the games. A was urged to consider entering at least two more women in the and the events
Edit Mesa has been identified for the but said she was not in good shape and needed to rest while Sally Brassies who failed to make the cut is ranked fourth in the world this year after winning in Palm Alto in the United States.
Brassies, a world champion in 1997, said she is regaining her shape after maternity leave and was confident she can put more effort in her training in the coming days.
No Kenyan woman has ever won an Olympics gold medal. Pealing Conga, the first medallist won a silver in the Atlanta Olympics of 1996. Juice won a bronze in the marathon four years ago in Sydney.
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