Two-time London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge has been appointed marathon team captain for August’s Rio Olympics.
The top marathoner was appointed in the position yesterday during the launch of the Olympics marathon team camp in Eldoret. While accepting the responsibility, Kipchoge said he is confident Kenya will perform well at the Olympics.
“I am delighted to oversee this team and make sure that we do well. I have confidence the marathoners selected and we are hopeful we will deliver,” Kipchoge said. He said he will take the lead role to marshal his team-mates and push for better results. “What I am focusing on is teamwork that will enable us achieve our targets. We can only work better as a team,” he added.
Kipchoge said the better part of their training will be mental and asked fellow athletes to uphold self discipline. The women’s marathon in Rio will be held on August 14 while men’s competition will go down on August 21. Kenya’s only gold in marathon was won in 2008 Beijing Olympics by the late Samuel Wanjiru.
According to AK president Jack Tuwei, athletes will train individually but the coaches will be making follow ups on their progress. Team Kenya Chief de mission Stephen Soi said they have agreed with the ministry to have the athletes allowances paid in advance before traveling to Rio.
“This will eliminate the issues of go slows and motivate the team. They will be paid here in Kenya and not in Brazil,” he added. Marathoners present included Kipchoge, Stanely Biwott, Wesley Korir and Bernard Kipyego in the men’s ring and Jemimah Sumgong, Hellah Kiprop, Florence Kiplagat, Visiline Jepkesho and Mary Keitany will represented by women category.
Elsewhere, Olympic trials may be switched back to Nairobi if a warm-up track is installed at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret in time for the June 29-30 show. Inspection team comprising of NOC-K and AK raised questions over the commitment of the three county governments in the area to finalise the warm up track in time for the trials. NOC-K had in late April announced that the trials will be held in Eldoret after a deliberation with Uasin Gishu and Elgeyo-Marakwet governors Jackson Mandago and Alex Tolgos respectively.
However, during the inspection tour, Tuwei and NOC-K chairman Dr.Kipchoge Keino discovered that nothing was going on at the ground.
The two, who were accompanied by Uasin Gishu County deputy Governor Daniel Chemno said they would look into the option of using Sixty Four Stadium as the warm up track.
Sixty Four stadium is 4km away from Kipchoge Stadium and it takes 14 minutes by bus to ferry athletes between the two venues using the along the busy Eldoret-Uganda highway. Chepkoilel would be the other option but it is 12km away and takes 27 minutes from the Kipchoge Keino Stadium. Tuwei said more work needs to be done for the venue to successfully host the event, where the Team Kenya to Rio Olympics will be selected.
He said the venue needs a warm up track, washrooms, parking, terraces and a fence for proper control of people on the day. “If we have to settle for Kipchoge, then those facilities should be improved. We have no time and the county should work with speed,” Tuwei added.
Asked when they will make a final decision on the matter, Tuwei said they will form a technical committee with personnel from NOC-K, AK and County Government to deliberate on the matter. However, deputy governor Chemno assured they are committed and work will be completed ahead of trials.