Today there were in Nairobi 4 events really interesting.
10000m (at 9:30 in the morning, with good weather in a not very sunny day, good for running) : Best performance in altitude, betterd for 18.0 :
1) Wilson Kiprop 27:26.93 (2:43.0 / 5:29.3 / 8:17.2 / 11:04.3 / 13:48.7 / 16:33.0 / 19:13.8 / 22:01.0 / 24:47.3 / 27:26.93 with last lap in 57.4)
2) Geoffrey Mutai 27:27.79
3) Mathew Kisorio 27:28.13
4) Titus Mbishei 27:29.13
5) Jacob Cheshari 27:32.43
6) Lucas Rotich 27:34.55
7) Paul Tanui 27:36.76
8) Philemon Limo 27:36.94
9) Kiprono Menjo 27:37.42
10) Josphat Ndambiri 27:48.39
11) Isaac Arusei 27:50.40
12) Josphat Bett 28:05.46
1500m (at 14:25 in the afternoon, very hot, with a rabbit for 800m) :
1) Asbel Kiprop 3:33.69 (55.2 / 1:52.0 / 2:50.5)
2) Silas Kiplagat 3:34.28
3) Nicholas Kemboi 3:37.22
4) Vickson Polonet 3:38.14
5) Nickson Chepseba 3:39.12
6) Collins Cheboi 3:40.21
7) Gideon Gathimba 3:40.44
800m (at 15:00)
1) David Rudisha 1:44.23
2) Alfred Kirwa 1:45.50
3) Jackson Kivuva 1:45.75
4) Abraham Kiplagat 1:45.83
800m W (at 13:40)
1) Janet Jepkosgei 1:58.95
2) Winny Chebet 2:00.88
3) Eunice Sum 2:02.55
Pamela Jelimo DNF
3000 SC M (at 15:00)
1) Richard Mateelong 8:15.69
2) Jonathan Muia 8:19.25
3) Abraham Cherono 8:21.15
4) Abraham Chirchir 8:23.23
5) Patrick Langat 8:25.96
Some interesting note :
a) The first 2 in 10000m are Marathon runners : Wilson Kiprop ran 2:09:09 in Prague (9.05) in his first attempt, Geoffrey Mutai ran under 2:05:00 in Rotterdam. We changed the training of Wilson only a little during last period : he went for 30 km last Friday, and had the last track session last Monday (5 x 600 in 1'34" with 2:00 recovery + 5 x 500 in 1'16" / 1'17" with 2' recovery). The program provided still 5 x 400 in 60", but, looking the sensation of Wilson, I decided to stop his training.
This is a clear demonstration that, running long distance, nobody goes to lose his speed, IF CONTINUES TO USE SOME SPECIFIC TRAINING IN THIS DIRECTION.
The value of the first 5 athletes at sea level is between 26:45 and 26:55. The pace was fast but even, and for this reason 9 athletes were able to beat the old WR in altitude (27:44 of Paul Kosgei in 2002).
b) In 1500m there is a new guy (Silas Kiplagat) with a very strong final kick, that was able to push Asbel Kiprop till the finish lane. Nobody must be surprised if, during the season, this guy can run very close 3'30".
c) In 800m W, we can see the growing shape of Janet Jepkosgei, ready for running under 1'57", while the crisis of Pamela Jelimo continues. The Olympic Champion is not able to be competitive, and, in my opinion, needs to stop this season for changing completely her mental approach and her behavior. I don't think possible to recruit the qualities that allowed her in dominating the World in 2008, without a deep analysis and a stop for escaping from the spiral that at the moment goes to block her.
d) During the heat in the steeple (M) Ezekiel Kemboi was lucky because a hammer bounded on the track and the chain kicked him on a foot. He couldn't run the final, his injury can last some day only, but 5 centimeters of difference in the impact could mean the end of his career.
In the other event, Lineth Masai won very easy 10000m in 32'03"85 with a strong acceleration in the 8th km (2'57") running negative split (16'28" + 15'35"), Rudisha showed that can really look for beating the WR because his way of dominating says that his limits are very far, Milcah Chemos won alone in 9:34.69 the steeple without Gladys Kipkemboi, Vivian Cheruiyot came back from a long period of injury winning 5000m in 15'31", while 5000m men was a tactical race won by Vincent Yator in 13'35"01 with Edwin Soi second in 13'35"09.