Mike Okinyi
26 August 2007
Osaka, Japan — Surprise marathon package Luke Kibet was determined to win the marathon race on the opening day of the world athletics championships here in Osaka, Japan. Kibet was among the five Kenyans in the race on Saturday morning.
As it turned out, team tactics played just a small bit and the rest was left to individual athletes.
"We planned the race last night (Friday night) and we were all prepared. But the pace was too slow and I decided to pull away at the 32 kilometre mark. My friend William (Kiplagat) did not respond and I decided to go all the way," said the 24-year-old.
William Kiplagat was challenging for a silver medal and was on course, staying shoulder to shoulder with former Kenya now runing for Qatar Mubarak Shami (Richard Yatich).
"The weather was not favourable at all. It was too hot and very humid. I never saw the possibility of winning until after 35 kilometres. Thats when I actually thought I could win the race," added Kibet.
On the stands, the Kenyan contingent was sure of a gold medal with coach John Mwithiga and team leader Ibrahim Hussein consulting all the time. The Kenyan camp was in a jovial mood at the start of the race as compared to their Ethiopian counterparts who grew longer faces with each passing kilometre.
"This one we knew we will have it. We had a very strong team of unknown athletes, but we knew they will do us proud, said Mwithiga.
Hussein had mixed emotions as his own brother Mbarak Kipkorir Hussein was running for the United States of America. At the end of the race, Kipkori asked "Who won the race?"
When he was told it is Kibet, his face lit up in a warm smile.
"That is wonderful!" he said.
Asked about how it feels to be running for another country, Hussein admitted it feels quiet different as his heart is in Kenya and he still shares in the Kenyan joys and pains. Not so kind words came from Mubarak Shami.
"If I was still in Kenya, I wouldn't have made it to the team. The selection for marathoners is always biased as you only make it to the team on the basis of who you know in the top management of Athletics Kenya."
It is rumoured that Shami was promised half a million Dollars (Sh35 million) if he won gold for Qatar. He refused to clarify or deny the claims. As for the race, he never thought that he would make it to the medal bracket.
"I was the first one on the course this morning for warm up. My mind was willing but my leg just refused to move. So I thought to myself that I should just run to finish the race if not for anything else. But as the race moved on, I struggled with my leg because it is a long term injury. Only when I managed 30 kilometres did I think of a medal," said Shami. He almost lost the silver to Kenya's William Kiplagat, but he refused to let go.
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