Ishmael Kipkurui (L) competes in the men’s
10,000m in Tokyo /HANDOUT
Reigning NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) 10,000m champion Ishmael Kipkurui says Tokyo is only the beginning of what he has in store for the country as he sets his sights on conquering the distance events.
Kipkurui came within touching distance of a first global podium at the Tokyo World Championships last Saturday but narrowly missed out, finishing fourth in 28:56.48.
France’s Jimmy Gressier (28:55.77), Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha (28:55.83) and Sweden’s Andreas Almgren (28:56.02) sealed the medals in a fiercely contested race.
Speaking after touching down at JKIA on Wednesday, Kipkurui reflected on Tokyo as a major learning curve.
“It was my first time competing at a major global championship in the 10,000m, and the experience has been amazing," Kipkurui said.
The 20-year-old first donned the Kenyan colors in the senior ranks at the 2023 Budapest World Championships, where he lined up in the 5,000m and placed 10th in 13:21.20.
That race saw Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen (13:11.30) edge Spain’s Mohamed Katir (13:11.44) and Kenya’s Jacob Krop (13:12.28) for podium places.
After going toe-to-toe with world-class stars in Tokyo, Kipkurui believes he now has what it takes to deliver glory for Kenya in the distance events.
"Tokyo gave me the belief that I can hold my own against the best in the world. This is just the beginning," he added.
The 2026 calendar is packed with major assignments for athletes.
The Glasgow Commonwealth Games will run from July 23 to August 6, while the inaugural World Ultimate Championships are set for September 11–13 in Budapest, Hungary.
Kipkurui credited the NCAA with sharpening his form for Tokyo.
"The NCAA prepared me with the facilities, coaching, and strong competition."
On June 11, Kipkurui produced a dominant display to claim the 10,000m NCAA crown, stopping the clock in 29:07.70.
Eritrea's Habtom Samuel (29:08.73) and Ernest Cheruiyot (29:10.37) completed the podium.
Kipkurui had first announced himself at the 2024 World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, where he clocked 13:42.27 for fourth place.
Meanwhile, 2023 Berlin Marathon runner-up Vincent Ngetich is hoping to bounce back from a disappointing outing over the classic 42km in Tokyo.
In the men’s marathon, the 26-year-old settled for 22nd in 2:13:38 in a race won by Tanzania’s Alphonce Simbu (2:09:48).
Ngetich admitted that the Tokyo conditions weighed heavily on him.
“Running 42 kilometres in Tokyo was a huge challenge."
“The climate and altitude differences tested me, but wearing Kenya’s colours gave me motivation," Ngetich said.
Despite the setback, he took solace in the lessons learned.
"I’ve learned that competing on the global stage takes resilience, and I want young runners back home to know that every step is worth it.”
Marathon coach Amos Korir explained that despite thorough preparation in Eldoret and Kapsabet, the Tokyo heat proved decisive.
“We trained hard, but extreme weather conditions made it tough. Magdalene Masai was in the top three until the 38th kilometre before the heat overwhelmed her. In the future, we must also prepare in hot, low-altitude environments. These are lessons not just for today’s athletes but also for the next generation.”
Coach Sammy Bii echoed the call for improved preparation.
“Normally, marathon training should take four months, but this time we only had two. Still, six athletes chose to sacrifice their city marathons to represent Kenya, which shows commitment. For our young athletes, this is a reminder that success requires sacrifice, resilience, and support from the system around you.”
