Don't write me off yet: Conseslus Kipruto

Two time World 3000m Steeplechase champion and Olympics gold medalist Conseslus Kipruto says he is not done yet and Kenyans should expect a 'surprise" from him soon. 

In a message that looks like a 'pick me' cry to Athletics Kenya (AK) who, through a team of selectors, will decide on the third athlete to represent Kenya in each event at the Olympics, Kipruto says he has not given up. 

During the AK three-day Olympics trials held at Kasarani, Kipruto dropped out of the race won by Leonard Bett with Abraham Kibiwott coming in second while Benjamin Kigen finished third. 

"(Sic) No need to say that my performances in 2021 are close to zero. I am not completely fit but I'm working hard to still show something in 2021. I apologise to those who 'ordered' another Gold. I have not given up though and also you should not write me off,"

"Always willing to give the best for Kenya and my loyal sponsor Nike. Maybe the delivery is just a little later this time. Hope to surprise you all soon. Kenyan national anthem will be sung in Tokyo. Cheers guys," he wrote on his social media platforms. 

In the event the team of selectors go with Kipruto for the third slot, Africa Games gold medalist, Kigen will be the sacrificial lamb. The 27-year old won steeplechase gold at the 2019 African Games and the 2018 Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting, where he famously beat Kipruto and Olympic silver medalist Evan Jager. He finished the World Championships in Doha in 8:06.95.

Most recently Kigen won the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) annual meet in 8:31.96 before placing second at the Olympic pre-trials held at Nyayo timing 8:26.93.

Even with Kipruto's inclusion in the team, if it happens, Kenya heads to the Olympics unsure of the gold medal as the defending champion's form has been questionable recently. He failed to finish his first steeplechase race this season when he dropped out of the Wanda Diamond League race in Florence, Italy on June 10. 

Kenya’s dominance in the 3000m steeplechase is under immense threat from Ethiopians who were close to clinching gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha. 

Kenya has owned the water and barrier race at the Summer Games for the last three decades having captured successive gold medals in the men’s race since the 1984 Games in Los Angeles all the way to the last edition in Rio, Brazil.