Seeing so many great talents competing for just three Olympic spots almost feels sad. The results from the Eugene Diamond League’s Kenyan 10,000 m Olympic trials races today, especially the women’s, will tell who the main contenders for the medals at the Paris Olympics are going to be.
The reigning World Cross Country Champion, Beatrice Chebet; world record holder for the 5K and 10K, Agnes Jebet; World Road Running silver medalist and world bronze medalist from Eugene, Margaret Kipkemboi; Eugene World U20 silver medalist and reigning world cross-country silver medalist, Lilian Kasait; and other big names who have already run the Olympic qualification time are all in the mix.
To make the women’s race interesting is the presence of the reigning world champion, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay who is targeting a fast time. The Diamond League record of 30:24:39 that was run by her compatriot, Tirunesh Dibaba on the same course will surely be under threat. Kenyan Vivian Cheruiyot’s national record of 29:32.53 will also be worth watching.
The men’s race consists of Kenyan runners only, mostly those who have already met the Olympic qualifying time.
Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, the silver medalist from Budapest; Benson Kiplangat, the world U20 champion and world cross country bronze medalist; Edwin Kurgat, who is the only Kenyan on the start list to have attained the Olympic time on track; Stanley Waithaka Mburu, the silver medalist from Eugene world championships; Kibiwott Kandie, the 2020 world half marathon silver medalist, and Nicholas Kipkorir, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics fourth finisher are among the top Kenyans to watch.
Despite the advancement in shoe technology, Paul Tergat’s national record of 26:27.85, which he ran in 1997, still stands, and it will be interesting to see if it is attacked tonight.
The Kenyan 10,000m Olympic trials start lists
Men:
1 Peter Mwaniki AILA 28:39.7h
2 Ronald KWEMOI 27:33.94
3 Edwin KURGAT 26:57.66
4 Weldon LANGAT 27:24.73
5 Daniel MATEIKO 27:03.94
6 Gideon Kipkertich RONO 27:11.03
7 Samwel Chebolei MASAI 27:10.06
8 Benson KIPLANGAT 26:27.85
9 Benard KIBET 26:55.04
10 Stanley Waithaka MBURU 27:13.01
11 Kibiwott KANDIE 27:20.34
12 Francis ABONG 28:26.62
13 Nicholas KIPKORIR 26:58.97
14 Daniel Simiu EBENYO 26:57.80
15 Kasey KNEVELBAARD (PM) USA
16 Andrew ERNST (PM) USA
Women:
1 Lilian Kasait RENGERUK KEN 34:30.7h
2 Selah BUSIENEI KEN 30:26.40
3 Beatrice CHEBET KEN 33:29.7h
4 Cintia CHEPNGENO KEN
5 Jesca CHELANGAT KEN
6 Emmaculate Anyango ACHOL KEN 32:51.58
7 Faith CHEPKOECH KEN
8 Janeth CHEPNGETICH KEN 31:57.70
9 Margaret Chelimo KIPKEMBOI KEN 30:10.07
10 Loice CHEMNUNG KEN
11 Catherine Reline AMANANG’OLE KEN 31:54.59
12 Diana CHEPKORIR KEN
13 Miriam CHEBET KEN
14 Agnes Jebet NGETICH KEN 31:34.83
15 Grace Loibach NAWOWUNA KEN 29:47.42
16 Sarah CHELANGAT UGA 31:06.46
17 Daisy JEPKEMEI KAZ
18 Gudaf TSEGAY ETH 29:29.73
19 Rachel MCARTHUR (PM) USA
20 Saron BERHE (PM) ETH
21 Mekedes ALEMESHETE (PM) ETH