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

Nice article. I imagine Kipkurui wasn’t daydreaming during the rigourous course/tactical prep sessions the Kenyan coaches conducted for Bathurst. He closed for the win with class yet stated he didn’t expect to finish on top--perhaps a hint that as his confidence and physical gifts mature, the U20 XC Champ will be quite a handful.

Yeah, I think he has surprised himself a bit because even after the race he was considering whether he should compete next year as a Junior at World Cross. That feels unlikely now, especially after winning a race at the senior level. It's setting in he should try to make the Worlds team and might not be far off. Granted being in around 13:05 shape is not nearly enough in Kenya (or even the US at this point).

Yeah I liked the article. Seems pretty similar to Samuel Kibathi Wanjiru (both Feb. 2005/ 18y/o) as far as a very promising young athlete with a chance of making the team albeit I think the chances aren't particularly high but who knows.

I kind of view the likeliness of making the team like this right now:

1. Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli

2. Jacob Krop

3. Daniel Simiu

4. Cornelius Kemboi

5. Emmanuel Kiprop

6. Levy Kibet

7. Edward Zakayo

8. Ismael Kipkurui

9. Michael Temoi

10. Samuel Kibathi

Kibathi recently won over Kemboi in Nairobi in 13:36, just outside his PB.

I'm kind of thinking guys like Benson Kiplangat, Emmanuel Kiplagat, Benard Koech, Samwel Masai might try for 10000m at the trials.

Gotta have Amos Bett as a wild card too after he won that indoor 3,000 vs Balew, and maybe even Kioko too after his 13:09 at BU and pacing job at The Ten that resulted in a 27:22. Crazy crowded field

Yeah good points, Bett showed good range after that indoor win with his 27:11 10k last year as well.

Thanks, hadn't seen this. Such a nice article. An increasing number of young Kenyans are getting into the sport because they love running above all else. Nothing but good from this.

Great ranking but I think one of the younger guys is due a sharp improvement as is often the case. Just don't know which.

Also, Stanley Waithaka Mburu might be considering the double. I wouldn't rule him out.

Kenya has gone from having literally no one in the 5000m with no finalists at worlds a few years ago to virtually being able to field a football team with just the 5k talent. Pretty impressive in such a short span of time.

Yeah its hard to know who might have a breakthrough this year. Could be someone we really don't know yet. For example Maxon Kipngetich caught my eye from the recent Nairobi weekend meet. He won his 5000 heat in 13:40 then the next day was second at 10000m in 28:21 behind Emmanuel Kiplagat (13:07/27:07 PBs). Just feel like it could be someone like that who's never raced outside the country but is showing good early year form and is still quite young - 22

We can add another name to the list: Gideon Rono. Impressively beats fellow Japanese-based upstart Samuel Kibathi by 5 seconds in 13:41. Looks like a dirt track. It feels like Kenya had a paced time trial 5K you might have 10 athletes break 13…maybe more.

Article on him here:

capitalfm.co.ke

Youngster Rono ready to fight fiercely for ticket to Budapest Worlds - Capital Sports

Omondi Onyatta

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 10 - Kenyan long distance runner Gedion Rono remains confident that he will win the ticket to represent the country at this year's Get the latest local and international sports updates, football, rugby, at...

Link:www.capitalfm.co.ke/sports/2023/03/10/...

Very interesting he got the win over Kibathi there. Rono ran 27:11 in Japan last year, so a great athlete for sure. He didn't run particularly amazingly at New Year Ekiden this year for GMO Internet Group and was significantly slower than the likes of Benard Koech (Kyudenko; PBs: 13:11/26:66/58:45); Benson Kiplangat (SUBARU; 13:10/27:09) and Emmanuel Kiplagat (Mitsubishi Juko; 13:11/27:07) who were the top three fastest on the 2nd (8.3km) stage (and all have a decent chance at Budapest) despite Rono starting in 1st. That said it was January and Worlds are August.

Also interesting to look through the Kenya yearly top lists for 5000 and 10000 where particularly the latter distance is dominated by guys running in Japan.

At the same meet it would appear Elijah Manangoi placed 14th in 14:30 in his 5000 heat after winning a 1500 (3:46) in Nairobi on 24 Feb. I feel like he could be a pretty good athlete again this year but will be hard to be near where he was before. A better chance at producing good results than Asbel Kiprop it looks like.

Just dropping in another Kenyan to watch: Aaron Kemei. Apparently ran 1:46.9 on a dirt track in Mombasa. By far, the most impressive middle distance performance of the meet:

nation.africa

Sprinters Mbagari, Motende shine at AK Mombasa meet

Mbagari was delighted with the win having braved the heat and tough track.

Link:nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/s...

His official PB is 1:48.46 to win his heat in the meeting in Nairobi in March. Hopefully, he gets a lane at Kip Keino or the top heat at the next fast domestic 800m to feature Kinyamal etc.

Update on Bett: I was surprised to see he's joined Tokyo International University. The school which frequently competes in Hakone Ekiden, however will have to earn there spot in October I think, has had the likes of Vincent Yegon (13:15/27:24/ 3x stage record at Hakone) and Tatsuhiko Ito (27:25 #JPN all-time 10000) in recent years. Both Yegon and Ito now run for powerhouse corporate team HONDA.

Bett and Richard Etir (13:15/27:27) joined Tokyo International then went 2,3 at the Kanakuri meet in around 13:24-25 beaten by Emmanuel Kiplagat (Mitsubishi Juko - 13:11/27:07).

Thanks Will. Dropping in an update on some of these other names. Kipkirui will be competing at Doha in the 3k. While he won’t be there, a large contingent of U20 talents competed this weekend and will be at African Junior Champs and many have elite siblings.

Some notables:

Omanyala’s brother Isaac Omurwa will be in the 100. Brigid Kosgei’s sister Pamela is in the Steeple. Amos Serem’s brother, Edmond, is in the U18 2k Steeple. Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot was given a bye into the 1500 squad, though this competition will be like a training run for him unless there’s a phenom outside of Kenya we don’t know about. Samuel Kibathi was given a bye into the men’s 10,000. Vincent Kimaiyo Kipruto ran 13:43 to win the 5,000 so that looks like a name to watch for the future.

nation.africa

It runs in the family, siblings of top athletics stars in Kenya junior team

Omanyala's brother, Isaac, will lead Kenya's charge in 100m in Zambia.

Link:nation.africa/kenya/sports/athletics/s...

Thanks for this. Interesting as Kibathi was competing at Port-Gentil 10k and I think he was in 3rd as the field was strung out at around 9km, no result though so maybe DNF late in the race or an error.

Ok wow, very surprised by this if true: Jacob Krop and Michael Temoi join GMO Internet Group. Would love to know why Krop joined, but both were announced to race at the Nobeoka Golden Games on 4 May. I wonder if somewhat similar to Suguru Osako, Krop will not base himself for much of the year in Japan but only race some races there and maybe New Year Ekiden. The two aren't yet on the GMO website though. GMO recently announced Gideon Rono left (joined Logisteed I think) and Philip Mulwa joined.

Regarding the entry lists, the meet looks great. Kibathi and Rono aren't even in the fast heat (heat B). Also Felix Kiptarus Korir (13:07 PB) seems to have joined Toyota.

GMO Internet Group athletes on their website:

athletes.gmo.jp

Athletes/Staff[アスリーツ、スタッフ一覧] - GMOインターネットグループ 陸上部

No.1を目指すアスリートを支援するGMOインターネットグループ 陸上部

Link:athletes.gmo.jp/athletes/

That's very interesting on Krop. I remember a LetsRunner shared a workout of his (pretty typical Kenyan sessions 400s at 3K-ish pace) in Kenya and it looked like his coaching setup/training group were solid. I know Nicholas Kipkorir has trained with him on occasion, but is not a constant training companion. This and Noah Kibet moving to the UAC is another high profile move for an athlete that didn't go to the NCAA/start their career in high school in Japan. That being said, I agree with you and it wouldn't surprise me if he like Stanley Mburu splits his time in Japan and Kenya pretty evenly.

The two biggest young talents of all have stayed domestic as far as I know in Reynold Kipkorir and Emmanuel Wanyonyi.