This archive report was first published on 8 January 2020.
Published on January 8, 2020, by BERNARD ROTICH, a renowned sports journalist.
As the new season kicks off, athletes worldwide are gearing up for a packed calendar of events. In Kenya, several athletes have been participating in local races to assess their readiness for the major championships.
One such athlete is Rhonex Kipruto, the World Under 20 10,000 meters champion, who will be competing in the Valencia Ibercaja 10 kilometers road race on Sunday. Kipruto, who won bronze in the Doha World Championship 10,000m, expressed optimism about his performance.
"This will be my first race this year, and I will use it to gauge how my body reacts after a year of rest following the Doha World Championships. I have started my training programme," Kipruto said in an interview with Nation Sport.
Kipruto's primary goal is to secure a spot in the Kenyan team for the Tokyo Olympic Games, where he will compete in the 10,000m race. He aims to improve his personal best and deliver a medal in the event.
"The race will be competitive, but it's a good start for me as I shift focus on the Olympics Games. It's a tall order, but my prayer is to improve my personal best and deliver a medal in the event," Kipruto said.
With top athletes like Julien Wanders from Switzerland and Chala Regasa from Ethiopia competing in the men's race, Kipruto will face stiff competition. In the women's race, Sheila Chepkirui will battle against Norah Jeruto and Lonah Chemtai Salpeter.
