After punching a maiden ticket to the Tokyo World Championships in the men's 10,000m, Edwin Kurgat has pointed out a need to sharpen up on his speed before the global showpiece in September.
Athletics Kenya held the men's 10,000m and women's 5,000m World Championship trials last weekend at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. Kurgat placed fourth, clocking 26:46.35 to become the first Kenyan to cross the finish line in the 10,000m, securing his spot for Tokyo. Ishamel Rokito (26:47.72) and Benson Kiplangat (26:50.00) rounded out Kenya's top three.
Meanwhile, Ethiopians dominated the podium places, led by Biniam Mehari, who set a world-leading time of 26:43.82, with Berihu Aregawi (26:43.84) and Selemon Barega (26:44.13) in second and third place, respectively. Kurgat's mark in Hayward Field was well under the 27:00 entry standard for the Tokyo extravaganza.
After securing his spot in Kenya's team, the 29-year-old is laser-focused on sharpening his speed before the global show kicks off in September. "We have been doing a lot of strength work, and it's just been building up now. It's time for me to focus on my speed work," Kurgat said. In Tokyo, Kenya will be hoping that Kurgat and his teammates can end the country's 24-year drought in the event.
The last Kenyan to win World Championship gold over 10,000m was Charles Kamathi in Edmonton in 2001. Historically, Kenya has only claimed three world titles in the 10,000m. Kamathi's 2001 gold was preceded by earlier triumphs from Moses Tanui (Tokyo 1991) and the late Paul Kipkoech (Rome 1987). Uganda’s World record holder Joshua Cheptegei has won the last three world titles in Doha (2019), Eugene (2022), and Budapest (2023).
Kenya has come close in Eugene and Budapest when Stanley Mburu and Daniel Simiu both claimed silver. Kurgat expressed his joy at featuring in his first World Championships. "I feel so good to have booked my place for the Tokyo World Championships. It feels great and I am excited."
His Pre-Classic display was a psychological lift after his heartbreak at last year’s Olympic trials, where he also finished fourth at Hayward Field. "After last year's disappointment of finishing fourth and missing my chance in the 10,000m for the Olympics, I knew this time round I had to be mentally tactical and know what I want," he noted.
During last year's Olympic trials, also held at the Pre Classic, Kurgat placed fourth, clocking 26:51.54. Daniel Mateiko (26:50.81), Nicholas Kipkorir (26:50.94) and Benard Koech (26:51.09) claimed Kenya's slots for the Olympic Games.
However, despite missing the 10,000m team, Kurgat secured his slot in Kenya's 5,000m team for Paris, where he placed seventh in the finals, clocking 13:17.18. Reflecting on his race execution over the weekend, Kurgat noted that he made his decisive move with six laps to go. "I had to be patient at the start and try to know who is ahead and behind me and what I should do."
"With six laps to go, I saw everyone was getting tired and the leading group was close. There was also another Kenyan in that leading pack, so I wanted to close the gap and I went for it," he stated. Still, he admitted the Ethiopian trio’s relentless pace was punishing. "The fast pace was confusing, and I knew it was going to take at least 26:40 to make the team."
