Loice Chemnung is determined to banish the heartbreak of missing last year’s Paris Olympic Games by storming Kenya's 10,000m team to the World Championships in Tokyo in September.
Chemnung spoke after clinching her maiden 10,000m national title on Day One of the Athletics Kenya National Championships at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Thursday morning.
She clocked 31:39. 09 ahead of Cintia Chepng’eno, who produced a late kick to edge Rebecca Mwangi in a sprint finish in the battle for second place.
Chepng'eno timed clocking 32:22.44 as Mwangi returned 32:22.85.
"This is my first 10,000m national title, and it feels good to win it. Winning today is a big achievement and a morale booster," Chemnung said.
However, a downpour in the capital posed a significant challenge.
"The race was good, the only challenge was the weather, it was raining, and that was tough for us," she stated.
Chemnung took control early, setting a relentless tempo that saw most of the field drop well before the bell.
"When the weather is bad, we have a slow race. You feel like the body is lagging, so I decided to push the field," she added.
She returns to the track for Friday's 5,000m final in the hunt for a distance double.
"I will be running in the 5,000m race as well. I don't want to be too confident and say I will win in but I will try my best," said Chemnung.
Her next target is punching a ticket for her World Championships debut in Tokyo during the national trials on August 1-2.
"I was preparing for the road races, but I decided to come and run today for my employer as I fine-tune for the World Championship trials where I will be running in the 10,000m," she said.
Chemnung placed 11th (30:44.86) in the 10,000m race during the Kenyan Olympic trials at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic.
The race was won by Beatrice Chebet (28:54.14), followed by Lilian Kasait (29:26.89) and Margaret Chelimo (29:27.59), earning them automatic tickets to the French Games.
Despite her confidence, Chemnung acknowledged the tough task that awaits.
"You never know how a race will go. The other athletes are also strong, but I will do my best," she noted.
"The body feels good. I just have to go back to the drawing board and fix up a few areas before the trials."
She kicked off her season with a dominant victory at the Malaga Half Marathon, setting a new course record of 1:05:46.
On May 25, she won the Bangsaen 10k after crossing the finish line in 31:26.
Chepng’eno, meanwhile, was pleased with her late burst to secure second place.
"The race was not easy because of the rain, but I am thankful I made the podium," she said. "I decided to kick in the final stretch because I saw I had the legs for it."
She is also gunning for a spot in Team Kenya for Tokyo.
"I will compete in the 10,000m race at the trials. I hope to make the cut in Team Kenya."
In the men’s 5,000m final, Gilbert Kiprotich lit up the track to clinch a maiden national title in 13:37.06.
He held off Amos Kiprotich (13:37.58) and George Manang'oi (13:43.03) in a thrilling finish.
The Japan-based athlete, who trains at the Ikaika Camp in Keringet under coach Willy Lang’at, was delighted with his breakthrough win despite the soggy conditions.
"The weather was very tough. The rain caused us some issues, but I am happy to have won my first national title," Kiprotich said.
He hopes his form on the roads will boost his chances at the trials.
"My target is to get the Kenyan team to the World Championships," he added. "I was at the Malaga Half Marathon and that performance has given me confidence."
The 25-year-old clocked 58:27 to claim the Malaga crown in March.
Sprint king Ferdinand Omanyala was also in action, cruising to victory in his 100m semifinal in 10.09 seconds.
Steve Odhiambo (10.28) and Moses Wasike (10.53) completed the podium in that heat.
"We have less than five hours to wait, so we will see what happens, but all in all, it was a good run to open up the body," Omanyala said.
He is still chasing his first sub-10-second finish of the season and hopes to achieve it in Friday's final.
George Malala hurled 16.44m to claim the national shot put crown ahead of Benson Maina (15.95m) and Peter Mwangi (15.47m).
Malala was not happy with himself.
"I had expected an even bigger throw. I targeted 16.80m or even 17m, but I will take the win," Malala said, noting that the weather bore the blame.
"In weather like this, the muscles are tight, so getting a personal best here is very tough."
"Today it was very competitive, the weather was a challenge, but all in all it was a good competition," Maina said.
Roselyne Rakamba claimed the women's hammer throw title with a season's best of 55.64m ahead of Rebecca Kerubo (48.69m) and Nancy Kanini (48.06 m).
