Get The Inside Scoop on the Kenyan Trials From Our Man On The Ground In Kenya

Jairus dropped out of the steeple right after 1k. He has been troubled by a knee injury since falling in the Diamond league race (i can't remember where) a few weeks ago, and that injury has not completely healed. With that said, it would have been tough for a healthy Jairus to make the top three today, Kemboi and the Kipruto's looked strong.

Why 4 names in men's 10K ?

I just got off the phone with Andy Arnold - our man our man on the ground in Kenya - who has been attending the Kenyan Trials the last two days.

Here are 5 takeaways I got from talking to him. He's likely to send me a more formal recap (that we may put in an article or maybe we'll have him just post on the forum as we are so busy with the US Trials)

1) Hand the gold medal to Ezekiel Kemboi. He said that Kemboi looked amazing, was mocking the other runners, waving to the crowd and will win gold. Kemboi was actually third in the race behind the two Kipruto's but that was just a technicality he said. It's worth noting that Jairus Birech was not top three.

2) The men's 10k was wild and crazy as Karoki and Kamworor both dropped out. He said Karoki was leading at 3200 and just stepped off. Then Kamworor was at the front and stepped off at 8k. He said it was very hot as the sun was shining (he estimated around 75 degrees with full sun). He said Kamworor went to the hospital and was given an IV. He said that Canova told him Kamworor was 100% getting a wildcard to Rio. Arnold spoke with Karoki who also thought he'd get a wild card. Karoki said he'd been dealing with some injury issues. Canova told Arnold that a 2nd wildcard would be unprecedented.

3) He said the men's 800 was stunning as David Rudisha barely got third and the winner was unreal. Rudisha won the semis in 143 but the final was tactical. He said Rudisha was in the front for 300 and then he went into the pack. He claimed the first 400 was 52 and then Alfred Kipketer just took off and ran a 50 on the 2nd lap for a 143 win. He told me it was 52-50 which I've never heard of for an 800.The official winning time was 1:43.73. Maybe Arnold's splits are off a little (or it could have been like 52.8, 50.9) but it was impressive nonetheless. Ferguson Rotich ran 1:44.05 with Rudisha rallying from 5th in the final 100 to 3rd in 1:44.23 (although he would have gotten a wildcard if he hadn't made it).

4) In terms of the rest of the meet, the studs delivered. KIprop won the 1500 with Manangoi 2nd and Ronald Kwemoi 3rd (looks like Silas Kiplagat it out). In the women's 1500, Faith Kipyegon destroyed everyone. In the women's 800, he said he's been watching Eunice Sum workout lately and she's in awesome shape but she was no match for Magaret Wambui whom he said ran like Semenya - in the pack for a slow first lap (60?) before crushing everyone in 158. He said Vivian Cheruiyot looked amazing and that the Jerry Schumacher coached Betsy Saina grabbed the 2nd spot in the 10k (with African champ Alice Nawowuna given a wildcard). He personally enjoyed that race a great deal as he used Saina's phone to give Jerry live splits during the race.

5) He said the atmosphere was great and the stadium was totally packed today as the President showed up.

Typo. I've corrected. Birech was not top 3.

This must be the first time Kenya is sending a high jumper and racewalkers.

Bro - Mama wrote:

Why 4 names in men's 10K ?

Might be a typo since Geoffrey Kam dropped out?

Actually they listed both Bedan Karoki and Geoffrey Kamworor on the team when both dropped out. 3rd place was Wilfred Kimeli Kimitei. He has the standard so I would think he is on the team.

Wow Sally Kipyego missing the team is a big upset, isn't it? 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist?

52-50 We haven't seen the potential of Kenyan 800m running reached yet.

asfsdagds wrote:

Wow Sally Kipyego missing the team is a big upset, isn't it? 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist?

It's not a huge shock. She hasn't been great of late and there were already 2 locks for the team in the wildcard and then Vivian.

Results are here:

10000 m 30 June

1 Vivian Cheruiyot KEN 31:36.37 SB «

2 Betsy Saina KEN 32:04.83 SB «

3 Gladys Chesire KEN 32:17.35 SB «

4 Cynthia Limo KEN 32:25.18 PB »

5 Caroline Kipkirui KEN 32:36.70

6 Sally Kipyego KEN 32:37.11 SB «

7 Beatrice Mutai KEN 32:39.48 SB «

8 Doricah Obare KEN 34:58.42

9 Rachael Chebet UGA 35:42.20 SB «

Irene Cheptai KEN DNF

Jackline Chepngeno KEN DNF

Thank you for the awesome update. I hope the USA trials are half as exciting as this!

how did kemboi toy with the field but get 3rd? How is he a lock?

i don't know, kenya? wrote:

Thank you for the awesome update. I hope the USA trials are half as exciting as this!

how did kemboi toy with the field but get 3rd? How is he a lock?

He just jogged to the line.

HardLoper wrote:

This must be the first time Kenya is sending a high jumper and racewalkers.

Bro - Mama wrote:

Why 4 names in men's 10K ?

Might be a typo since Geoffrey Kam dropped out?

Its not a typo. Geoffrey Kam and B. Karoki were favorites for the team and just had a bad day. Kenya cannot afford to lose its top two athletes who are also credible medal contenders in Rio just because of a single bad day in the office. Its like Jamaica leaving out Usain Bolt from the team because tripped and fell or was sick and did not make it top three. Its not gonna happen, pal! Rules are made and can be broken if doing so serves the best interest of the nation.

Domiso wrote:

i don't know, kenya? wrote:

Thank you for the awesome update. I hope the USA trials are half as exciting as this!

how did kemboi toy with the field but get 3rd? How is he a lock?

He just jogged to the line.

https://youtu.be/ZuBJDo-3iVs

Kemboi always shows up the medal is on the line that's why, even the past few years when's he's struggled all year he's there for gold still.

Domiso wrote:

He just jogged to the line.

https://youtu.be/ZuBJDo-3iVs

Super classy move by Kemboi. I'm sure a Kenyan national title has to be somewhat lucrative. To hand over the title to your team mates, with obvious joy and camaraderie is really quite impressive.

He's already the undisputed greatest steepler of all time. Think what a third Olympic title does for his legacy.

I would just love to see Jager spoil a sweep however.

Domiso wrote:

i don't know, kenya? wrote:

Thank you for the awesome update. I hope the USA trials are half as exciting as this!

how did kemboi toy with the field but get 3rd? How is he a lock?

He just jogged to the line.

https://youtu.be/ZuBJDo-3iVs

They all did. Nothing to suggest Kemboi is head and shoulders above the other two here.