Pain in Paris as Kenya’s 10,000m title wait continues

Kenya failed to end '56 years of hurt' as their 10,000m final stumble on Friday meant the 1968 Naftali Temu’s heroics in Mexico Games remain the only top honour in the 24-lap race.

The trio of Bernard Kibet, Daniel Mateiko and Nicholas Kimeli failed to succeed where the late Temu reached as their neighbour Joshua Cheptegei beat Ethiopians strong challenge to strike first ever gold for Uganda over the distance.

The three-time world champion and world record holder, silver medallist at the Tokyo Games, timed an Olympic record of 26min 43.14sec for victory.

Ethiopia's Berihu Aregawi edged fast-finishing American Grant Fisher by two-hundredths of a second to take silver in 26:43.44.

Japan-based Kibet was the ‘best’ for Kenya in fifth place after the 25-year-old athlete dropped from the leading pack in the final lap leaving Cheptegei, Berihu Aregawi of Ethiopia and USA’s Grant Fisher to fight for the race’s soul.

“The race was very tough and the pace was very high. Despite the loss, I will pick many lessons that will help me plan my comeback.

“Our biggest weakness is speed. We’re lacking the final kick especially in the last lap, something which our opponents like Cheptegei have perfected. He remained calm and composed throughout the race and even I thought he had given up only for him to surge in the last two laps. That was very tactical and not many can run that way.

“I will have to work on my weight as I seek to improve on the speed ahead of next year’s World Championships,” said Kibet, who made debut at the Olympics in Paris.

This is the second time in as many editions the country will miss the podium after Rhonex Kipruto finished eight at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s 800m representatives Mary Moraa and Lilian Odira are keen to storm to the two-lap race final as Kenya seeks to reclaim the title it won lastly in 2008.

Moraa, the reigning world champion, clocked 1:57.95 to finish behind Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia in heat 5 while debutant Odira punched her ticket to the semifinals after placing third in heat 6.

“In Tokyo I reached the semifinals and since then I’ve learned a lot. I was very keen to get it right in round 1. We’ve strong opponents but I know we can get a medal this year. It is doable.”

The other Kenya’s representative Vivian Chebet will have another route to the semifinals after she finished fourth in heat 6. She will compete in the Repechage Round.

“We will cheer her up tomorrow (Saturday) because we want all of us to proceed to the semis and if possible the final. We want first to prepare for the semis and the final will come if we prepare well in the semis.”