Alfred Kirwa Yego sprints to gold in the men's 800m final (© Getty Images)
Kenya has unveiled its most ambitious and comprehensive Olympic Games preparation programme in history in order to try to sustain the success of Osaka World Championships in Athletics last year and match the performance of the Seoul Olympics two decades ago.
A provisional line-up of 120 athletes and 20 coaches will go into residential training camp at Chepkoilel Campus in Eldoret, home to most athletes, 320km west of the capital from May 20.
The coaches will prepare these runners, many of them world-beaters, in readiness for the final national trials for the Beijing Olympic Games between June 14 and 15 in Nairobi.
More deserving runners who will prove themselves in institutional and regional competition will also be invited for the trials, Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, said on Tuesday (13).
A final team will be named after the trials but the association did not disclose the mode of selection.
The coaches are of the opinion that the three to four weeks athletes are in residential training after the trials is not enough for those in charge of them to evaluate them competently.
The provisional team includes World champions Alfred Kirwa (800m), Brimin Kipruto (3000m Steeplechase) and Janeth Jepkosgei (women’s 800m). Some of the young runners in the team include are World junior 800m champion David Rudisha, Asbel Kiprop who was fourth in Osaka at 1500m, and the season’s new find Pamela Chelimo, winner of the 800m during the recent Africa championships.
However, marathoners and Japan-based runners like World Half Marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru have been given leave of absence from the camp but will be required to compete in the Trials.
The coaches headed by Armed Forces head coach Julius Kirwa and with experienced figures like Bro Colm O’Connell, the Irish lay brother who has discovered so many world beaters and nurtured them from tender ages to greatness, have been directed to prepare them physically and psychologically.
Kirwa who has handled the world cross country championships team together with John Mwithiga and David Letting for the last three years, said they settled for Eldoret because of the high altitude factor and the good murram track.
After the Trials, the Olympics team will return to residential training in Nairobi. The National Olympic Committee of Kenya, has kick-started this programme with a sponsorship of US$23,000 while Athletics Kenya will provide incentives including allowances.
During a brainstorming meeting in Nairobi on Monday (12), the coaches discussed the many issues including the reasons for inconsistent performances by Kenyan teams at the World championships and the Olympic Games since 1988. In Seoul, Kenya men triumphantly won the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and 3000m Steeplechase, a type of domiance they would love to return to on the track in Beijing.
Peter Njenga for the IAAF
