Budapest23: Ferguson Rotich confident of Kenya’s 800m title defense

At the age of 33, 800m Olympics silver medalist Ferguson Rotich will be in Budapest for this year’s World Athletics Championships, ten years after making his debut on the stage.

“With those named on the team, I believe we will deliver and have the title remain in the country. We will work as a team for this,” he offered in an interview with Mozzart Sport moments after finishing third during the national trials.

Rotich made Team Kenya to the worlds after finishing third during the national trials joining former world U20 champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi who has been likened with the world record holder, Rudisha.

Wanyonyi will be making his second appearance at the world, having finished fourth in Oregon.

Also, on the team is national champion Kipng’etich Ngeno who is also making a second appearance after his debut in 2019 in Doha while defending champion Emmanuel Korir had his wild card but did not participate in the trials due to injury.

Despite missing out on the qualifying time, Rotich’s season best time of 1:44.71 clocked during the trials held at Nyayo was good enough to see him through by virtue of his world ranking.

“During the trials I did my best to be in the top three despite the competition and I couldn’t have been happier with the results. I had struggled with an injury last year but I am in a better place and having better preparations for the worlds,” Rotich said after making Team Kenya.

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In his first appearance at the Worlds, Rotich who had bust into the limelight in 2013 and placed second to Antony Chemut during the national trials to book his place in the team, went on to reach the semis but was disqualified for lane infringement.

In 2015, he was again in Beijing alongside world record holder David Rudisha who won the title as Rotich missed out on the podium with a fourth-place finish.

He followed that with another semifinal exit in London, 2017 as teammate Kipyegon Bett went on to bag bronze for Kenya.

Rotich picked his first world medal in 2019, doha where he clocked 1:43.82 to settle for bronze behind Donavan Brazier of the USA and Amel Tuka of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

He missed the action in Oregon last year with Kenya represented by 2018 Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, world indoor games silver medalist Noah Kibet, Wanyonyi and holder Korir.

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As he makes his comeback on the world stage, Rotich believes his experience will come in handy in marshalling the team to the title and winning medals.

“I go into this year’s competition as a senior athlete, having been on this big stage since 2013 and I believe I have something to offer the team in terms of strategy. Running a championship is different from the one-day events and needs some planning which I am confident we will get right,” he concluded.