American-based Kenyan Edwin Kurgat is bullish about his chances of ending Kenya's 24-year 10,000m title at the World Championships, which kick off tomorrow (Saturday) in Tokyo.
The men’s 10,000m final is set for Sunday at 3:30 pm Kenyan time.
Kenya last won the 25-lap race at Edmonton 2001, when Charles Kamathi stopped the clock in 27:53.25.
Ethiopians Assefa Mezgebu (27:53.97) and Haile Gebrselassie (27:54.41) completed the podium.
Before Kamathi's historic run, Kenya had claimed gold on two previous occasions.
Paul Kipkoech won the world title at Rome 1987, when he stormed to victory in a then-championship record of 27:38.6.
Moses Tanui claimed the nation's second gold medal over the distance at Tokyo 1991, when he crossed the line in 27:38.74.
Since 2001, three athletes have come within striking distance of the title but had to settle for silver medals.
At Beijing 2015, Geoffrey Kamworor clocked 27:01.76 for silver, behind Britain’s Mo Farah (27:01.13).
Stanley Mburu clocked 27:27.90 to finish behind Uganda's Joshua Cheptegei at Eugene 2022 and Daniel Simiu at Budapest 2023, where he crossed the line in 27:52.60 behind Cheptegei (27:51.42).
The three showed promise that Kenya could yet again reign supreme over the men's 10,000m, which has grown to be the nation's Achilles heel at the championships.
As the 20th edition of the World Championships unfolds in Tokyo, the trio of Kurgat, Ishmael Rokitto and Benson Kiplangat carry the nation’s hopes of reliving the glory moments in the 10,000m.
Kurgat knows all too well the weight that rests on their shoulders.
“Everybody has been telling us that Kenya is well known for middle and long distance, but we have not been winning as many medals in the 10,000m for a long time,” Kurgat said.
Despite the mounting pressure, the 29-year-old noted that the trio is ready to push themselves against international heavyweights to restore Kenya’s supremacy.
“We have had that in mind and the coaches have been telling us to watch what the previous medallists did in order to win," he said.
"We have been studying their videos to learn. We are really excited to go out there, give our best and ensure we bring back glory to the country."
Kurgat will be buoyed by the training he has undergone as he eyes glory in Tokyo.
“I am really ready for Tokyo. I have given my all in training since joining Team Kenya,” he said.
Kurgat observed that Kenya’s decision to host the national trials for Tokyo in the US boosted his chances of making the team.
“This year has been really good for me. When Kenya brought the trials to the US, I was really happy,” he said.
At the national trials held on July 5 at the Prefontaine Classic, Kurgat clocked 26:46.35 to place fourth overall and top among the Kenyans, booking his ticket to Tokyo.
He noted that after missing the 10,000m team for the Paris Olympics during last year’s trials, he doubled his efforts to feature in Tokyo.
“After placing fourth in last year’s trials in the 10,000m and missing the team to Paris, it made me work even harder. I went back to training with more focus to ensure I made the team to Tokyo."
Despite not featuring in the 10,000m race in Paris, Kurgat competed in the 5,000m, placing seventh in 13:17.18.
To sharpen his form, Kurgat lined up at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 20, where he finished sixth in the 5,000m after clocking 13:09.91.
“I ran a 5,000m in Lausanne as part of my preparations for Tokyo, and now I feel race-ready,” he said.
He drew comparisons between Kenyan and American athletes, noting that other nations are steadily catching up due to better facilities.
"Kenya is good when it comes to altitude, training camps and favourable weather. But in the US, you have access to all the training equipment, state-of-the-art facilities and tracks,” he observed.
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