Three-time world 3,000 metres steeplechase champion Moses Kiptanui yesterday criticised some leading Kenyan elite runners for snubbing the AAC Nairobi International Permit Meeting on Saturday.
Tanui said the athletes snubbed the meeting at the instigation of their foreign agents. He said their action amounted to lack of patriotism, apathy against local meetings and that it was a big shame for letting down to their peers, Namibian Frankie Fredricks and Maria Mutola of Mozambique, who sacrificed huge earnings to grace the meeting.
Fredricks, who ran a wind assisted time of 9.85 seconds in the 100m, the fastest this year in the world, said he was not doing it for money but to promote athletics in the continent.
"It is good to give these young guys some competition to enable them to gain experience," Fredericks said. "I didn't know how far behind they were but it's good to run this fast at altitude," he told reporters.
But Kiptanui did not lay blanket condemnation to all. At least Daniel Komen, Paul Bitok, Ben Maiyo, Susan Chepkemei and Catherine Ndereva turned up for the meeting, held for the first time locally since 1995.
Organisers said TV footage will be shown this week in 88 countries in Europe and Africa by Eurosport and CFI International respectively.
Amy Diack, the head of marketing and competition in the Africa Athletics Confederation, said under normal circumstance they would not afford to pay Mutola a six figure appearance fee. She only got Sh156,000 for winning, which is not worth her while.
"We should emulate William Tanui, a gold medallist in 1992 Barcelona Olympics, for competing, not for money, but to promote athletics," said Kiptanui, who had volunteered to co-ordinate local athletes' participation.
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"It is shameful to us when a person like Fredricks and Mutola questions why some of our best failed to show up.
"I know some of them listen to their foreign agents who encourage them to run in meetings where there is huge prize money. After all they get better commissions."
A winner in the Saturday meeting received about Sh150,000, which is not much compared to an average of Sh800,000 some of the big meetings fetch in Europe.
Kiptanui said local athletes should have at least helped in organisation work or simply made an appearance for the sake of the fans.
He said he had spoken individually to all the athletes had been assured they would make an appearance. Only Olympic 1,500m champion Noah Ng'eny sent apologises after sustaining back injury.
Mutola said she came to Nairobi to fulfil a social obligation to promote athletics in Africa. "I always feel proud and comfortable to run in Africa. It is my home and it is we who should encourage the sport to grow so that sponsors come come in.
"We should also bring the world to Africa," said Mutola before jetting out to her training base in South Africa.
Mutola funds a foundation in her town of Maputo, Mozambique to give young athletes an opportunity to exploit their talents.
Kiptanui said Kenyans should also compete in other AAC Meetings in different countries where they are held in high esteem.
