Kandie gunning for 10 000m glory in Tokyo
Nampa/Reuters
Kenya's half-marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie says he is shifting his focus to the 10 000m as he looks to earn a ticket to this year's Tokyo Olympics and help end his country's 53-year wait for a gold medal in the event.
The athlete smashed the half-marathon world record by 29 seconds in Valencia, Spain, last month, finishing in 57 minutes and 32 seconds and breaking the previous record of 58:01 set by compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor in September 2019.
Kenya's last Olympic gold in the 10 000m came in 1968 when Naftali Temu triumphed in Mexico City, and Kandie is hoping to go one better than Paul Tergat and Paul Tanui, who won silver in 2000 and 2016 respectively.
Drive
"I have the drive to prove to the world that I can also perform in track, that is why I made a decision to compete in a 10 000m event with the aim of securing an Olympic ticket," he told the Xinhua news agency.
"I will be more than happy to see the Kenyan flag being hoisted for the 10 000m in Tokyo.
"I know we, as a country, haven't posted the best results in 10 000m recently but I believe with team work and early preparations we will be able to achieve good results in the Tokyo Games."
The Tokyo Olympics are due to take place from 23 July to 8 August after being pushed back by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kenya's half-marathon record holder Kibiwott Kandie says he is shifting his focus to the 10 000m as he looks to earn a ticket to this year's Tokyo Olympics and help end his country's 53-year wait for a gold medal in the event.
The athlete smashed the half-marathon world record by 29 seconds in Valencia, Spain, last month, finishing in 57 minutes and 32 seconds and breaking the previous record of 58:01 set by compatriot Geoffrey Kamworor in September 2019.
Kenya's last Olympic gold in the 10 000m came in 1968 when Naftali Temu triumphed in Mexico City, and Kandie is hoping to go one better than Paul Tergat and Paul Tanui, who won silver in 2000 and 2016 respectively.
Drive
"I have the drive to prove to the world that I can also perform in track, that is why I made a decision to compete in a 10 000m event with the aim of securing an Olympic ticket," he told the Xinhua news agency.
"I will be more than happy to see the Kenyan flag being hoisted for the 10 000m in Tokyo.
"I know we, as a country, haven't posted the best results in 10 000m recently but I believe with team work and early preparations we will be able to achieve good results in the Tokyo Games."
The Tokyo Olympics are due to take place from 23 July to 8 August after being pushed back by a year because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article