World U20 XC Champ Ishmael Kipkirui Runs Daily at 4AM, Is Obsessed with Track: "I Will Never Cheat On You With Football&quo

Yeah excited to see the 800m semis. Might see a sub-1:45 there. The Heat with Tim was competitive and in the 1:46s

They didn’t go super fast though still solid. More in 1:46 range. Ferguson Rotich looked awesome. Otherwise Tim/Kinyamal looked solid as did Tuwei. I think it was Kitilit and Ngeny who got the other auto spots. Kemei died setting a hard pace.

Kandie destroyed everyone in the 10K with a hard surge with 650 to go or so.

Correction Kitilit I think tripped over Tim in his semi. So it was someone else who finished behind Rotich, perhaps Kidali.

I think 2nd to Rotich was Alex Ngeno Kipngetich who represented Kenya in Doha '19 and I think he runs for Rongai AC

Surprised to see Kandie after he said he hoped he didn't have to run here or something but very impresseive, all being well with him I see him starting as the favourite at trials in 2 weeks time. Shadrack Rono 2nd, Stanley Njihia 3rd, Edward Zakayo 4th, Patrick Mosin 5th I think.

Most of the other finals are tomorrow

You are correct and Kipngetich pulled the shocker in a great 800m final beating out Tuwei who celebrated early. Tim edged Kinyamal (tripling on the day to be fair). Think all 4 ran well (1:44.9-1:45.12).You’d still expect Kinyamal and Wanyonyi to go 1-2 but completely wide open for the third spot.

Reynold Cheruiyot skipped the 1500 final and Munguti ran excellently to defeat Keter in the homestretch. He has to be considered on equal footing with Komen, Keter, and Etiang I’d say.

Simon Koech easy win in the Steeple. Ditto Ebenyo in the 5k. Women’s side the favorites rolled in Moraa, Chebet but then Pamela Kosgei with the upset and in the 5,000 I think it was Rengeruk springing a surprise and edging out Chepkoech.

What became of young Michael Kibet, the 2019 trials winner ( Doah world champs). The boy seemed very promising and had beaten Daniel Simiu to second and Nicholas Kimeli. Both him and Simiu had been stripped from the team since the two had not been tested enough( doping test) since they were not in the testing pool.

Can't seem to find anything but I'm quite sure he's been suspended for a doping violation. Hasn't competed all year. Not just saying he was banned but I remember reading about it

A nice final day. Kipngetich was a real surprise but I agree the 3rd spot seems wide open however Kipngetich and Tuwei might have put themselves as the top two to claim it. I believe it will however be a strait final at trials though so that's quite different than 3 races in 3 days I suppose.

Very impressed by Koech beating Kibiwott, Kigen and Bett who have made many teams. While it looks like the men's steeple may now be one of Kenya's weaker events they seem to have some young guys coming up and I feel like the trials could be one of the most tightly competitive races.

Results have now been posted and apparently Kelvin Kimutai ran in the 1st 800 heat but was 4th. Previously mentioned Vincent Langat fell at the start of the 5000 but finished 7th and Haron Kibet also fell in the steeple

Results:

worldathletics.org

Kenyan Championships | Results | World Athletics

World Athletics Events and Results

Open link

Might soon be time for another thread for the trials themselves, but here is a list of invited athletes + some criteria from Athletics Kenya:

Takeaways -

800 will have heats this year

Some athletes not invited including:

Mens 1500 - No Brian Komen and Amon Kemboi (both with standard) and Justin Kipkoech (3:34 SB)

SC - No Mathew Kipkosgei who was 3rd at national champs

5000 - No Michael Temoi (standard) or Amos Bett, Edwin Kurgat, Samual Kibathi

10000 - No Isaac Ndiema (standard) or Rodgers Kwemoi, Gideon Rono

Still quite a few athletes invited to double so maybe some will try the 10/5 double or choose just one.

Not totally sure after reading it but maybe this means all the invited athletes have met the "ADAK/AIU antidoping testing requirement" meaning they all have the sufficient tests required to compete in Budapest should they make the team. Finally I wouldn't be too surprised if a few others get in considering point 6 under Criteria and I saw Athanas Kioko post something saying he got invited (10000 I think) but a good start here

Thanks Will. Komen won a race today, so I suspect this is a drug testing thing. He should be eligible for Paris. Kemboi is disappointing, but perhaps the same reason.

Will probably start a new Kenyan Trials thread but some interesting developments:

Mburu is out of the 10K with an injury, it’s a shame because he said he got it last week

nation.africa

Blow for Team Kenya as injury locks medal prospect out of Worlds

He sustained the injury on his right leg during speed work training last week in Nyahururu.

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Kipkirui is now IN for Worlds. Kandie picked up a hamstring injury allowing Simiyu Ebenyo to run his preferred distance (10K) and Kipkirui goes in:

nation.africa

Bad luck or just unlucky? Kibiwott Kandie forced out of World Championships

Kenya will be represented by 56 athletes; 32 men and 24 women in Budapest.

Open link

Ishmael Kipkirui certainly got himself noticed in the final of the 5000m at Worlds when he shot himself out of the glacial pack and made them chase him down. Made a slow race better.

A star is born. This is the Rojo experiment: elite EA talent meets top US coaching/resources. Took about 3 months of adjustment.

I doubt Kipkirui and Habtom follow the lead of the New Mexico coach as much as the rest of the team. I mean Kipkirui barely seems to speak English.