Lack of team work made me not to win gold, Kipruto laments

Former world steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto has blamed lack of team work for his failure to defend the title he won in Doha, Qatar in 2019.

Kipruto finished third to bag bronze in Monday contest,  a race won by Soufianne El Bakkali of Morocco while Lmecha Girms of Ethiopia came second to take home silver, and now Kipruto has called for proper team work in the coming races if Kenya is to restore its glory in the race.

 “Like today I worked alone, we didn’t assist each other, I was trying to tell the other guys we try to block the rest but they were really behind,” Kipruto explained, noting that there is still an opportunity for him, as he’s bouncing back to the track after spells in the sideline with an injury.

“Two years out and winning a bronze is still good for me, but come next year I am very sure I will bring the glory home,’’ said Kipruto.

Racing alongside Leonard Kipkemoi and Abraham Biwott, Kipruto has promised to make a stronger comeback in the upcoming Commonwealth Games which begins on July 28 to August 5 in Birmingham, United Kingdom.

“I am going to Birmingham in three weeks time and I am going to defend my title, since I still have the morale. Maybe this time the challenge could be the fact that we only had a short period after the trials (to train) but in one month I am going to beat my competitors,” added the former world champion.

Kipruto missed last year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo Japan due to injury. He however believes that the bronze medal won in Eugene Oregon is ‘a step in the right direction’ on his path to recovery.

Kenya’s medal tally at the championships stands at six as of Tuesday, one gold, three silvers and two bronze, putting Kenya third on the medal table, behind the USA and Ethiopia.

Kenya’s medal hunt continues Wednesday morning in the Men's 1,500M finals when Timothy Cheuriyot and Abel Kipsang take on the track.