Robin Toskin
22 July 2007
Nairobi — Kenyans descend on the Olympic Stadium on Sunday night, seeking their last gold medals as the track events conclude the ninth edition of the All Africa Games here in Algiers.
Asbel Kiprop, Geoffrey Rono and Gedion Gathimba will be in action in the men's 1,500m from 8pm against other African rising stars in a championship dubbed the scouts hunting ground.
The women's team comprises Florence Kiplagat and teenager Veronica Nyaruai.
After the humiliating defeat of Kenyans at the hands of Eritrea's Zersenay Tadesse in the 10,000m, the local boys are mulling on how to restore Kenya's pride.
Ethiopia will have Derese Mekonen, Dema Daba and Abdisa Sorry to challenge the Kenyans while Eritrea could field Habtai Kifletsion, Esak Sbahtu, and Miraf Bahta.
Algeria's Tarek Boukensa has been tipped as the favourite to win the 1,500m by the local press and it won't be a surprise if he upsets the applecart for the East Africans.
Nyaruai and Kiplagat will be up against the likes of Ethiopia's Gelete Burka, Meskerem Assefa, Mestawot Tadesse and Beshahwork Aman. Eritrea could parade Furtuna Zegergish, Miraf Bahta and Nazret Woldu.
But before they take to the track, Kenya will have known if they stamped their authority in the men's 5,000m final. Thomas Longosiwa, Mark Kiptoo and Kiprono Menjo will be up against usual rivals from Ethiopia and Eritrea.
Ethiopia will parade Tariku Bekele, Ali Abdosh and Abraham Cherkoshe while Eritrea Armada has Ali Abdela, Amanuel Weldeslassie and Samuel Tsegai.
Ethioipia's Sileshi Shihine is absent which gives the field a fairly even chance for anybody to win.
Longosiwa who has been quiet over his plans since he arrived in Algiers, said Kenyans have to respond in a big way to the Eritrean and Ethiopian challenge.
"It is difficult to accept that Ethiopians and Eritreans beat our team. But that is part of athletics. What remains is for us to focus on today's race," Longosiwa said.
Coach Dan Muchoki insists his runners are young and would mature with time.
"Eritrea's Tadesse did not just wake up and start winning races. It has taken him time and right now he has peaked. The boys who will run tomorrow are capable of upsetting the Ethiopians, let us wait and see,' Muchoki said
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