Rank: Veteran Joined: 6/17/2009 Posts: 1,627
|
hamburglar wrote:It's almost time for our favorite track and field athletes to carry our flag in London for the world championships. Bad news is that this might be the first time in a major championship that Kenya might not win what has been our preserve for decades, both the 3000m men and women's steeplechase. The men's steplechase will most likely be won by American Evan Jager and the women's version will likely go to the current world record holder and former kenyan now running for Bahrain (i think) Ruth Jeptoo. We might still be able to beat her out as we have a very strong field of Chespol, current world champion Kiyeng and Chepkoech but the men's is a foregone issue, Jager will win it and it won't even be close. The yank is in form and he does not fear the indomitable East Africans at all. This is going to be a disappointing championships because we are not guaranteed any gold other than perharps men's 1500m where i know the good Asbel Kiprop will show up to win. If he does not win then Timothy Cheruiyot or Ronald Kwemoi will win. My money is on Kwemoi, he is enjoying really good form.
1500m women field is toooooo strong. Sifan Hassan will probably beat our queen Faith Kipyegon to the gold. In the field will also will be Dibaba and Laura Muir, all very strong contenders. Not forgetting Jenny Simpson too who can spring up a surprise. Don't count out Winnie Chebet, she is deceptively fast.
800m men and women no hope. Nigel Amos and Semenya are sure bets even though there is a young Kenyan sensation who is based in the States and looks very good. Am forgetting his name. Rudisha might not even make the finals. The other youngster Bett looks like a bronze medal hopeful. After Semenya, there is Niyonsaba of Burundi and Ajay Wilson of the US. Thos are the favorites for the three medals available. Eunice Sum doesn't have it anymore and Wambui looks like she is running out of steam lately.
5000 and 10000m men is obviously going to Mo Farrah. He would have been a sure bet to win everywhere else inthe world anyway but is a lock to obliterate the competition in his country. No way he loses in London. Absolutely no way. So our guys will probably be battling it out with our neighbors Ethiopia for the lesser medals. That's a foregone conclusuion.
Women's 5000m is where we have the best prospect in Hellen Obiri. If Ayana has a bad day, Obiri will surely bring it home. 10000m is Ayana's to lose. That woman is a freak of nature and i can see her winning it with ease.
400m hurdles defending world champion Nicholas Bett is not in good form. He doesnt look like he will repeat his shock gold medal run from two years ago in Beijing. He might not even be on the podium at all.
Julius Yego has also been struggling mightily to even break the 80m mark after throwing over 90m to win gold in the last edition. Then there are two Germans, Rohler and Vetter who are throwing 90m and above almost regularly now. So, that might be the end of a Yego gold prospect. Times are tough.
Marathon doesnt look very good either. Bekele if he will be on the Ethiopian team looks really really strong. Without Sumgong and Mary Keitany, our hopes in the women's marathon don't look that promising either.
So, after all is said and done, depending on which Asbel Kiprop shows up, the good one who can run 3:26 with his eyes closed or the bad one that employs bad tacticts by running from the last spot and then exerting too much energy trying to catch up on the penultimate lap, i think we might come back home without a gold medal for the first time in a major world track and field event. It's not a good time for Kenyan athletics.
Let's hear your predictions. Mine are not very encouraging but they are very very plausible. At the end of the night Sifa Hasan's battle with Kipyegon left her without any medal as she got caught by Simpson and Semenya in the last 50 meters ....once again showing circuit form counts for little in championships ....well run Faith Kipyegon .
|