KENYA: Kenya holds athletics trials to choose team for the Beijing Olympics

Record ID: 361211

  • Title: KENYA: Kenya holds athletics trials to choose team for the Beijing Olympics
  • Date: 6th July 2008
  • Summary: CROWD
  • Embargoed: 21st July 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Kenya
  • Country: Kenya
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVAC9YAW92RL5SD80SMONIE4DRG
  • Story Text: Kenya holds national trials in Nairobi for the Beijing Olympic Games with notable upsets registered.
    Kenya held national trials for the Beijing Olympic Games in front of an estimated 15,000 spectators on Saturday (July 5) in Nairobi.
    After losing the 10,000 metre race to long time rivals, Ethiopia, in the Sydney 2000 Olympics, Kenya's hopes are on Moses Masai, Martin Irungu Mathathi and Micah Kogo who will represent the East African nation in Beijing after finishing first, second and third respectively.
    Defending Olympic 3,000 metres steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi won the steeplechase race ahead of world champion, Brimin Kipruto and African champion, Richard Mateelong.
    Kemboi expressed his confidence in winning gold at the Olympics.
    "I have been training hard and I see it has paid of today and I think from today I will train even harder because my purpose is in Beijing, the gold medal," he said.
    Janeth Jepkosgei, popularly known in Kenya as 'Eldoret Express' after her famous victory over Mozambican icon, Maria Mutola in 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne and last year's World Championships in Japan, was pushed back to second place by new rising star Pamela Jelimo.
    "Being one-two doesn't matter who wins and who becomes second, so I congratulate my friend for winning and we hope to do the best," Jepkosgei said.
    Former World 800 metre indoor champion Wilfred Bungei, who failed to defend his title early this year due to an injury, made a comeback by beating the winner of the semi-final Boaz Kiplagat Lalang and World champion Alfred Kirwa.
    Kenya selected a strong team of 37 athletes for the Games. After the Trials, the Olympics team will return to residential training at the Moi International Sports Centre in Nairobi on Monday(july 7).
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