Kelvin Kimtai will be facing off with his mentor and village mate Emmanuel Wanyonyi when the two represent Kenya in the 800 metres race at the World Athletics Championships, which begin in Tokyo, Japan, on Saturday.
Competing at the games is a major feat for Kimtai, 25, who first emerged during Kenya’s Olympic trials in 2021.
Wanyonyi, the World silver medallist, will be going to the global event for the third time. Joining Wanyonyi and Kimtai is African champion Alex Kipngetich Ngeno and Nicholas Kebenei, who won the trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on July 22.
The team left the country on Wednesday for Tokyo. Ngeno secured his place in Team Kenya after Wanyonyi bagged the Diamond League title at the finals in Zurich two weeks ago.
Kimtai, who hails from Kapretwa village in Saboti, Trans-Nzoia County, has been mentored by Olympic champion Wanyonyi.
Kenya's Emmanuel Wanyonyi competes in the men's 800m semi-final during the World Athletics Championships at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest on August 24, 2023.
Photo credit: AFP
Kimtai is excited to be competing against his mentor, who, he says, has been motivating him not to give up on his career.
That inspiration saw him finish second at the national trials, earning a slot to represent Kenya in Japan.
Speaking at their residential camp at the High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kimtai told Nation Sport that he is inspired by Wanyonyi’s good performance, consistency and discipline.
“For a long time, I have been looking forward to a slot in Team Kenya,” Kimtai said, recalling the time he finished last during trials to select the 2020 Olympic Games team.
He added: “I’m glad to have made the team to represent Kenya in Tokyo because it’s not always easy due to stiff competition locally. If I had given up when I came in last at the trials, I wouldn’t be here today.”
“Wanyonyi told me that the day I make Team Kenya, my life will change. That inspired me. I can already see the fruits.”
“I hope we can all qualify for the finals, then we can strategise on how we can conquer the world.”
“The two-lap race has lately become very competitive. It’s like athletes sprint from the start to the finish. You have to be very good in endurance and speed to sustain that. I believe we have what it takes to win,” said Kimtai.
Ngeno, the former World Under-20 800m silver medallist, said he entered the race after the Diamond League series. “I didn’t stop training and I believe I will run a good race.”
The Kericho-based athlete, who is heading to the championships for the fourth time, has never reached the finals. “This time around, I am targeting a finals berth.”
“This year, we have a strong team. I hope we can all get to the finals. Many people managed to run better times this year and that shows you the type of competition we expect in Tokyo,” said Ngeno, who has a personal best of 1:43.74.
The Kenyans face a test from US athletes Josh Hoey and Donavan Brazier, who are the second and third fastest on the list. Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati, Canada’s Marco Arop, and Australia’s Peter Bol are also expected to pose a major challenge to the Kenyans.
Kenya's Emmanuel Kipkurui Korir (centre) celebrates as he crosses the line to victory ahead of Canada's Marco Arop in the men's 800m final during the Diamond League athletics meeting at Stadion Letzigrund stadium in Zurich on September 8, 2022.
Photo credit: Sebastien Bozon | AFP
Kenya bagged a silver medal at the last championships in Budapest through Wanyonyi, in a race won by Canada’s Arop.
Since the inception of the World Athletics Championships in 1983, Kenya has bagged six gold medals, three silver and four bronze medals.
Wanyonyi is the fastest runner in the field with a personal best of 1:41.44. Kimtai has a personal best of 1:43.60, which he clocked at Ulinzi Sports Complex during the trials.
Wanyonyi also competed in the IFAM Gent Indoor, Topsporthal Vlaanderen, Gent (i) in Belgium last year, where he finished second after clocking 1:48.66. He also raced at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF, Arena Stade Couvert, Liévin (i) in France, finishing sixth in a time of 1:49.21.
