Your Guide to Kenyan Athletics at the Rio Olympic Games
The opening ceremony of the Rio Olympics is Friday (5 August). There will be great events to watch throughout the games, including boxing and the rugby sevens. But for the bulk of the action for the Kenyan team will be when athletics competitions kick off on 12 August.
After topping the medal table at the Athletics World Championships in 2015, expectations are high for Kenyan athletes to deliver some stunning performances and bring back a healthy haul of of Olympic medals. So as you watch (and cheer) along the way, here’s a handy guide so you can better know the exceptional athletes you are supporting.
Day 1 (12th August)
Women 10,000m finals
1. Vivian Cheruiyot
She was the first athlete to make the Kenyan team at the Olympic trials in Eldoret, and will also likely become the first athlete to win gold for Kenya on the first day of the Olympic Games. Though she came in 3rd place at the London Olympics, she’s only gotten better since then and is the reigning world champion.
2. Alice Aprot
The officials exempted her from running the Kenyan Olympic Trials, because as the reigning African 10,000m champion, she got a wild card to join Vivian Cheruiyot and Betsy Saina on the first day of the games having run a world leading time in Durban.
3. Betsy Saina
Familiar to Americans the NCAA Cross Country record holder, she’s yet to take the podium on the world stage. But finishing second to Cheruiyot at the Olympic trials this year has boosted her confidence as she hopes to medal in Rio.
Day 2 (13th August)
Men 10,000m finals
1. Geoffrey Kamworor
He is a man who is seen as the potential to run the legs off the competition, having finished second in the 10,000m at the world championships in Beijing and then winning the world half marathon championships in spectacular fashion after a devastating fall right at the start. Kamworor has the endurance to win it all, he just has to make sure he has enough of a lead not to be passed by someone with a stong final kick.
2. Bedan Karoki
He has been in Kenya’s 10,000m and cross country teams consistently since 2012. He is popular with fans for his fearlessness in setting fast surges and paces in races, which helps in making the races favorable for Kenyans to medal. Look for him to play a key role as a team player in the battle to beat reigning Olympic and World Champion Mo Farah.
3. Paul Tanui
He was the winner of the 10,000m race during the Kenyan Olympic trials and is a man who is clearly in good form. He won a bronze medal last year at the world championships in Beijing behind Farah and Kamworor, so he’s certainly in contention for the gold this time around.
Day 3 (14th August)
Women Marathon
1. Helah Kiprop
She won a silver medal last year at the world championships in Beijing and she also won the Tokyo Marathon early this year and cut nearly two minutes of the course record in the process. She’ll be well rested and ready to compete.
2. Jemima Sumgong
She won a bronze medal in Beijing world championships last year and just won the London Marathon this year, despite falling down during the race. Marathoners are tough, but she’s shown that she’s got the grit and determination on a whole other level.
3. Visiline Jepkesho
Winner of this year’s Paris Marathon this year, and has been steadily improving and is certainly of the caliber to compete with the best in the world.
Men 400m
1. Elphas Kishoyian
Winner of the Kenyan Olympic trials in Eldoret, he is seen as the competitor potential to medal in Rio for 400m.
2. Alex Shampao
He was second at Kenya’s Olympic trials in Eldoret.
3. Boniface Mweresa
He has represented Kenya a number of times in international competitions and has enough experience, but is yet to win a major competition.
4. Raymond Kibet
He represented Kenya at the African championships this year in Durban.
Day 4 (15th August)
Women 3000m Steeplechase
1. Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi
The reigning world champion and so far leading in the IAAF diamond league points, she is definitely the favorite to win the Olympic gold. She’s also a star in Kenya, having earned the title of Sportswoman of the Year for 2015.
2. Beatrice Chepkoech
Despite being relatively new, she already has a competitive personal best time of 9:17.41 which she posted in Eugene this year.
3. Lydia Rotich
Another new but promising steeplechaser worth watching out for. She trains with Hyvin Kiyeng so certainly is used to being pushed to perform.
Men 800m
1. David Rudisha
He is the Olympic defending champion and the world record holder. However, there are whispers that he’s not on form after struggling at Diamond League races this year. Still, every other competitor on the track will know that he’s the man to beat.
2. Alfred Kipketer
He was the surprise winner of Kenya’s Olympic trials and it remains to be seen whether he is going to maintain the win in Rio. Still, if beating Rudisha is no small feat, so certainly keep your eyes on him to be in medal contention.
3. Ferguson Rotich
He leads in the IAAF diamond league points so far, which means he has been consistently in top form this year. It’s tough to say that there’s someone with better odds of winning gold than Rudisha, but Rotich might just be the likely favorite.
Women 400m
1. Maureen Chelagat
If there is going to be a surprise in Rio, like the one that happened in Beijing last year when Nicholas Bett won gold in the mens 400m hurdles, it is likely to be when Chelagat wins gold in the women 400m. You heard it here first.
2. Margaret Nyairera
Known more for the 800m event, she will be running the two events in Rio. She’s certainly got the talent to compete at both.
Day 5 (16th August)
Women 1500m
1. Faith Kipyegon
The reigning Commonwealth champion, she is definitely a contender for gold having the world leading time and leading in the IAAF diamond league points. She won a silver medal at the World Championships at just 21 years old, and now a year later she’s only improving. Of course world record holder Genzebe Dibaba of Ethiopia will be in the race as well, so it should make for an exciting contest.
2. Nancy Chepkwemoi
Just like Faith KIpyegon, Chepkwemoi has focused on cross country and 1500m. As a junior athlete she was regularly in the top 3 competitors in the world at both events. At just 22 years old, she’s been a senior athlete for just a year, so odds are she’s got many great races ahead of her.
3. Viola Lagat
Lagat has represented Kenya at the World Championships and World Indoor Championships and her brother is the famous USA’s men’s 1500m runner Bernard Lagat, so talent is clearly evidently in their family.
Day 6 (17th August)
Men 3000m SC
1. Ezekiel Kemboi
Watch out for a new hair cut before the finals, it seems to bring him luck. He is known in Kenya as a championship runner who seems to struggle at times, but is always on form when there is a gold medal on the line. After winning four consecutive World Championship titles, he’s looking to bring home his third Olympic gold medal.
2. Conseslus Kipruto
He is in his best form this year and leads in IAAF diamond league points. He’ll have a tough time beating Kemboi, but if anyone can do it, then Conseslus is the man for the job.
3. Brimin Kipruto
His form peaked just at the right time for the Olympic trials in Kenya. He also has a lot of experience in championship races. With Conseslus and Kemboi, look for him to try and make it an all Kenyan podium.
Day 7 (18th August )
Men 400m Hurdles
1. Nicholas Bett
He is the reigning world champion, having won in spectacular fashion in Beijing last year. But the international competition will be fierce. Can he bring home Kenya’s first ever Olympic Medal in the event? We’ll have to watch and see.
2. Boniface Mucheru
He is the reigning African Champion of the event and this gives him a confidence boost as he goes to Rio.
3. Aron Koech
He is Kenya’s national champion and African Championship bronze medalist. So certainly a contender even amongst a strong field.
Women 400m hurdles
1. Maureen Chelagat
She ran comfortably to win the Kenyan Olympic trials in this event and is the only Kenyan who qualified to run in Rio. After Bett’s win at the 400m hurdles at the 2015 World Championships, this is an increasingly popular event in Kenya, so Chelagat might be just be the paving the way for future athletes to follow.
Day 8 (19th August)
Women 5000m
1. Vivian Cheruiyot
The “pocket rocket” will be back for another medal after having run the 10,000m on the first day. She was able to do that at the Daegu world championships in 2011, but it’s a real endurance challenge to race both events. At the London Olympics she brought home silver at the 5,000m, so this will be her chance to improve upon that performance.
2. Hellen Obiri
The world indoor champion was second at Kenya’s Olympic trials and just recently won the 3000m at the Monaco IAAF diamond league. She’s got the speed to be a contender so watch for her working with Cheruiyot to overcome the challenge a strong field of Ethiopian and American competition.
3. Mercy Cherono
She has mostly been finishing on second position in most of the diamond league races this year and finished 3rd during Kenya’s Olympic trials.
Day 9 20th August
Men 1500m
1. Asbel Kiprop
The three times world and one time Olympic champion currently leads in the IAAF diamond league points and is arguably the favorite for the gold medal in Rio. He’s widely regarded as one of the best 1500m runners ever, and he’s been chasing the world record lately. It seems poised to grab it either this year or next. Can he make that record performance on the track in Rio?
2. Elijah Manangoi
He is the reigning world silver medalist and is known for his strong finishing power. If he’s close to the front coming down the final straight, brace yourself for an exciting finish.
3. Ronald Kwemoi
He was third at the Kenyan Olympic trials, but just defeated Asbel Kiprop and Elijah Manangoi at the recent Monaco diamond league event. It was an impressive performance, and means he can’t be ruled out as serious contender for the gold in Rio.
Men 5000m
1. Caleb Ndiku
He did only a few races this year saying that his focus is the Olympic Games and that his rivals should expect a tough competition. He grabbed silver at the 2015 World Championships, and will likely be looking to work with his fellow countrymen to run a fast paced and tactical race.
2. Isaiah Koech
He is one of the most consistent 5000m runners in Kenya who has made the national team multiple times. He doesn’t have the final kick that seems to define 5,000m races in recent years, but he’s got the speed and endurance to be a contender if it’s a fast race.
3. Charles Yosei
He was a surprise second place finisher in the 10,000m during the Olympic trials in Eldoret, but he reached an agreement with the national coaches and decided to run in the 5000m. So he’s a bit of a wildcard to keep your eyes on for what may be a tactical race.
Women 800m
1. Margaret Nyairera
She was the winner of Kenya’s Olympic trials in Eldoret so certainly a contender. With legendary Janeth “Eldoret Express” Jepkosgei taking a break from running this year, look for Nyairera to lead the group of up-and-coming athletes trying to fill her shoes.
2. Eunice Sum
Was the IAAF diamond league winner last season, and medaled at the World Championships in Beijing, but the competition in the 800m is proving tougher this year. Still, she has the experience and credentials to be a serious medal contender.
3. Winnie Chebet
An experienced 800m runner, but seemed to be off-form of late. But she just a ran a competitive 1:59:88 on 23 July, so perhaps is ready to run a new personal best in Rio.
Javelin Throw men
1. Julius Yego
The YouTube legend. Growing up in a small village throwing sticks, he learned how to throw javelin by watching YouTube videos and endless practice. The method obviously worked, as his best throw of 92.72 meters happened last year at the world championships in Beijing making him the reigning world champion.
Day 10 (21st August)
Marathon Men
1. Eliud Kipchoge
Of the seven marathons he has run, he has won six and finished second in one. He’s coming off the back of winning the London marathon in 2:03:05, which is the second fastest marathon ever run. He is arguably the world’s best marathon runner at the moment, and indeed one of the greatest of all time.
2. Stanley Biwott
He won the New York City Marathon last year and finished second to Eliud Kipchoge this year at the London Marathon. In both New York and London he looked exceptionally strong and is certainly a medal contender in Rio.
3. Wesley Korir
Famous for being a member of parliament as well as running competitively, Korir has proven that he can do well in marathons run in warm weather conditions. He showed that skill by winning the 2012 Boston Marathon and being the first Kenyan finisher at this year’s Boston Marathon. After heat knocked the Kenyan men flat at the 2015 World Championships marathon, he might prove a valuable part of the team.
