Sammy Kitula
19 August 2007
Nairobi — This year's marathon team to Osaka has vowed to break a 20-year jinx of failed dreams in the World Athletics Championships.
With only a day to go before the national team leaves for the Japanese city, the marathon teams were exuding confidence yesterday, saying they were well prepared for the challenge and vowed to claim glory in Osaka.
Kenyan marathoners have for the past two decades failed miserably in the World Championships and this year's charges are too cognizant of this bad omen.
Ironically, Kenyan marathoners are the envy of the world when it comes to big city marathons - where they rule supreme. However, they have failed to replicate the same sterling performances in the World Championships. The coveted gold has eluded them over the years, much to the disappointment of many a Kenyan.
But things could change next week if we are to take this year's team by their word. The women's charge for glory is spearheaded by Catherine Ndereba, while the men's team is led by William Kiplagat.
The team has undergone intensive training and they are bubbling with confidence ahead of the global meet.
"For a very long time now, we haven't won an individual gold at the World Championships, but this time is different. We are certain of topping the race in Osaka," said Kiplagat.
The last time Kenya won a gold at the marathon was way back in 1987 during the 2nd World Athletics Championships in Rome, Italy, when Douglas Wakiihuri did the country proud. Wakiihuri went on to compile a brilliant marathon career, taking a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics and gold at the Commonwealth Games in 1990. The coveted medal has then eluded the team ever since, in all of the eight subsequent World Championships marathon races held.
According to the coaches, the team is raring to go and capture the gold in Osaka. The coaches are confident the team will prevail over their perennial rivals and end their present undeserved situation. During the 10th World Athletics Championships in Helsinki, Finland, the men's team won a silver, with the women winning the team's gold, also known as World Cup marathon.
The World Cup marathon's victory is calculated from the number of points amassed from individual runners. It is from the amalgamated points that the winning team is declared. Being the current winners in the World Cup marathon, the onus is on the women's team to equal their previous performance and surge ahead to win the individual medals.
The men's marathon will be the first event of the Championships, to be run on August 25, with the women's race taking place on September 9.
Won't favour anyone
Kenya's team will have to bear with the heat though as their race will be run in the morning, with other races being run in the evening. However, as three-time individual gold medalist in the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, Edith Masai says the conditions won't favour anyone.
"Of course we expect it (Osaka) to be hot, but the heat will be felt by all, irrespective of the country," she said.
The ten marathoners for Osaka are, Women: Ndereba, Edith Masai, Rose Cheruiyot, Hellen Kimtai and Lydia Cheptoo. Men: Laban Kipkemboi, Laban Kagika, James Mwangi Macharia, William Kiplagat and Luke Kibet.
At the same time, all travel arrangements have been finalised and the team is expected to leave tomorrow evening.
Commending the Japanese Consulate for their cooperation in travelling documents, the team's media liaison Peter Angwenyi said all was well.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2007 The Nation. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
