Habari za Wiki - 28 July, 2020
Faith in Monaco
August is only a couple of days away. Which means the beginning of this year’s track and field season is upon us! On 14 August, the Diamond League meet Herculis EBS 2020 will host several Olympic and world medalists on the Louis II Stadium track in Monaco.
Exciting news on who will be there: 1500m Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon is in. She will be competing in 1000m. This will be Faith’s first time to compete in Monaco and first time to compete in 1000m where she will take on 800m World champion Halimah Nakaayi and Briton Laura Muir.
Also, 1500m world champion and two time Monaco winner Timothy Cheruiyot will start alongside Ingebrigtsen brothers, Jakob and Filip. A rematch of Impossible Games this time even ground. Timothy is happy to line up against them, he considers the Ingebrigsten brothers his friends. The Kenyan athlete’s goal is to remain unbeaten in Monaco.
Elijah Manangoi among the 4 Kenyans sanctioned in a single day
Elijah Manangoi at the Impossible Games
It has become a common occurrence: almost every week a Kenyan athlete is sanctioned by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
In a single day Thursday last week, 4 Kenyan athletes faced the consequences. From whereabouts failures, refusing to submit samples, and use of prohibited substances.
The most disappointing suspension is for the 2017 world champion in 1500m Elijah Manangoi. He has been provisionally suspended for whereabouts failures. Manangoi said he is devastated by the suspension.
Long-distance runner Patrick Siele has also provisionally suspended for evading, refusing or failing to submit to sample collection. Why are you refusing to give your sample if you are clean? There’s no defence.
The longest ban is 8 years for marathon runner Mercy Kibarus with effect from 05 Dec ’19 for the presence of a prohibited substance 19-Norandrosterone, which she denied. Ordinarily, that attracts a 4 year ban but since it is her second anti-doping violation, AIU argued that a double ban is justifiable.
And long-distance runner Kenneth Kipkemoi has been banned for two years with effect from 25 Feb ’20 for the presence of a prohibited substance Terbutaline.
Over 50 Kenyans are now serving bans, putting Kenya in a very bad position worldwide with people calling for the ban of Kenya. To us, calls for a ban don't make sense. Kenya has massively stepped up testing and enforcement, and the more cheats who are caught, the clearer it is that Kenya is taking testing seriously. Kenyan officials are doing the right thing, improving trust in the sport that each athlete toeing the line is competing clean and fairly.
Ben Jipcho has rested
Today, we have a history class. Let us talk about Ben Jicpho, the man who sacrificed his chance of winning a medal to help Kipchoge Keino win gold at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games and beat Jim Ryun.
The 77 year old Jicpho year passed away on Friday, the day the Olympic Games were supposed to get underway in Tokyo. He will be laid to rest this Friday. Kipchoge Keino paid tribute to the man who was a rabbit for him and helped bring Kenyan running to the world stage.
Inspirational Chebii, 53 years old and running 400km per month
20 years ago, Kiplgat Chebii was obese, at 5’4 he was weighing 98kgs. He had health complications, got ridiculed and much more. It was time for Chebii to do something about his weight. He started by monitoring his diet and then running. He has seen tremendous results and keeps taking on new challenges. This year he wants to have run 3,600kms and walk 800kms. So he’ll have to cover 400km per month, that is 13 kms every day. We’re cheering for you Chebii!
Non-Kenyan News
Tulu the Groundbreaker
We’re loving history this week. Here’s another one from the archive, a story on the first African woman to win the Olympic gold medal in 10,000: Derartu Tulu.
In 1992, the Ethiopian pulled off a spectacular victory to triumph in the 10,000m final at the Barcelona Games. She went on to win again at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. In a strong field, she remains one of the most popular athletes in her country's history.
Half Marathon Championships virtual race
The World Half Marathon Championships are still on for 17 October in Gdynia, Poland. But it will be elite only. To substitute for the elite participation race, World Athletics is organising a global virtual half marathon, so runners everywhere can take part.
Which Events Are On
As we figure out how to operate in this new world, some Diamond League contests are going ahead, while others are getting scrapped. Shanghai Diamond league, Nanjing Continental Tour Meeting are among the latest to be cancelled. World Athletics has put together a list of international cancellations whether cancelled to postponed and confirmed.
NY Marathon registration
Just a reminder: registration for the NY Marathon virtual race opens today. You'll have a two week window to run your marathon and you can get a NY Marathon medal running anywhere in the world.
From Us At Enda
People often ask us which of our shoes are right for them. The answer is always: both.
The Lapatet and Iten are designed to be tools for different types of training. The Iten for speedwork and workouts and the Lapatet for easy runs and long runs.
Coach Paul and Navalayo took some time a while ago to explain just how the Lapatet works and what role it should play in your training.
From the Enda Community
It’s fun seeing member of the Enda Community living our best lives with the Mara Gold Lapatets.
@uptowtoney has been ‘remotely’ at the beach lately with his Mara Gold Lapatets.
@beecbooth had a good muddy adventure with her Mara Gold Lapatets in Wales.
