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L. MathekaKeter, Kiplagat ready to rumble with the big shots
Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 01.06.21. | 10:26
The two juniors put up impressive performances at the just-concluded Athletics Kenya Olympics pre-trials to send warning shots to the senior athletes in their races.
As preparations for the World Athletics (WA) Under-20 championships heat up and athletes look to make Team Kenya to the event set for Kasarani in August, two youngsters Vincent Keter and Emmanuel Kiplagat have proved that they can go against the seniors and make good times in their respective races.
Keter, a Rongai Athletics Club runner, who has been pace setting for the club's elite runners, including 1,500m world and three-time Diamond League champion Timothy Cheruiyot, took advantage of the elite athletes' absence to win the Athletics Kenya (AK) Olympics pre-trials meet at Nyayo and says he is ready to ditch the pace setting shoes.
Keter, Keter, Keter - 1500m Pre-Trials winner in 3.38 on the back of 3.38 heat win on Thursday. Well done! @vincketer @Nike#NextGeneration #FrontRunning pic.twitter.com/FNuaqoZWcG
— Rongai Athletics Club (@RongaiAC) May 29, 2021
"I was up against Seniors at the pre-trial and I feel I did well. This was my first win in a senior event and I feel ready to battle for an Olympics slot. However, if the chance I get is for the World Under-20 event then I will be happy to do duty for the country. I ran the Olympics qualifying time and training alongside the world champion has really pushed me and I am ready to take on the best. I had purposed to race in the Doha Diamond League but I shelved that for the pre-trial," Keter said after his win at the pre-trial.
Meanwhile, Kiplagat, another junior athlete has his eyes set on making the Under-20 team in 5000m was equally impressive at the pre-trial, winning the second heat of the 10,000m in 28:28.2 to place third overall.
"I decided to run in the 10,000m in the pre-trial as part of my endurance training and competing against the seniors and managing to hold my own has given me the motivation to make the Kenyan team to the Under-20 event."
World Under-20 favourite Emmanuel Kiplagat produced the stand out performance in the penultimate day of the #Tokyo2020 pre-trials at the Nyayo National Stadium earlier today
— BARNABA KORIR OFFICIAL (@KorirOfficial) May 28, 2021
Find today's results on this link;https://t.co/wLf5tYo4qy pic.twitter.com/Uf3SsMmsY2
"I may not in my prime for an Olympics slot but I am hoping to get a chance to compete at the trials as that will help me gauge myself as I prepare for the World Under-20 event. I will stil have work to do and my training will focus more on getting that mileage and lapping," said Kiplagat who was taking part in his second 10,000m race.
The victory for Kiplagat came barely a week after the 17-year-old won a double in 3,000 and 5,000 during the AK Central Rift pre-trials for the World Under-20 Championships held at Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex, just days before the AK pre-trials.
