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L. MathekaIsmael Kirui readying for busy 2023 season with world championships in mind
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 04.01.23. | 15:39
He has qualified for the World Cross Country Championships set for next month.
Teenage sensation Ismael Kirui is leaving nothing to chance in his quest for global glory in his budding athletics career.
The 17-year-old has already booked his ticket to next month’s World Athletics Cross Country Championships set for Bathurst on 18 February.
"After winning the Under-20 8km race in Ruiru last month during the trials, there was no time to rest, I had to keep working as I know withe competition ahead will not be easy.
I have not taken more than two days off as I had to keep up with training to be ready for next month," offered Kirui in an interview with Mozzart Sport.
The teenager who had won all the Athletics Kenya (AK) meets he had entered before the trials had a dominant performance, clocking 23:02.9 to finish ahead of World Under-20 1500m reigning champion Reynolds Kipkorir.
This is the second time Kirui will be donning the Kenyan colours and the first in the cross country as his debut for the national team came last year during the African Championships where he took part in 5000m.
"Last year I was carrying an injury in the lead up to the African event so my preparations were not the best. I managed a sixth-place finish.
This time round, I am in top shape and I want to begin the year on a high. A title in Bathurst will set the tone for the rest of the season as I will be looking to make Team Kenya to Budapest for the World Championships," Kirui added.
As part of his preparation ls for Bathurst, he will take part in the national cross country championships set for 21 January in Ruiru.
"I would have wanted to race in the regional competition set for this weekend but this week I am in Nairobi following up on my Visa to Australia for the World Cross Country event. That means I will have missed several days of training and I do not think I would be ready for competition," he explains.
As per his dreams of competing in the 5000m ag the world championships jn Hungary, Kirui says he is confident of making the team despite being unsuccessful for Oregon last year and for the Commonwealth Games.
