Competing heavyweights from Kenya to battle it out at the Tokyo World Championships
The World Athletics Championships in Tokyo are set to witness an exciting clash of titans, as some of the world's best athletes prepare to compete in various events. Among them are Kenya's renowned distance runners, who have been making waves in the athletics circuit.
Two-time world medallist Jacob Krop has been added to Team Kenya for the World Championships in the 5000m event. Krop won a silver medal at the 2022 Eugene event and a bronze in 2023 Budapest, and will be looking to add more hardware to his collection.
In the men's 1500m, the Kenyan squad includes Phanuel Koech, Timothy Cheruiyot, and Reynold Cheruiyot. Phanuel Koech, the fastest of the Kenyan 1500m squad to Tokyo, boasts a personal best of 3:27.72. He will be competing against Norwegian sensation Jokob Ingebrigtsen and others.
The men's 3000m steeplechasers; Abraham Kibiwott, Edmund Serem, and Simon Kiprop will have defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco to contend with.
The men's 5000m team will face off against Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher from the USA, who is also the indoor world record holder in the distance. Ethiopia is sending Biniam Meharay and Kuma Girma to the World Championships in this event. Meanwhile, Kenya's new entrant, Stanley Waithaka Mburu, will join forces with Ishmael Kipkurui, Benson Kiplangat, and Edwin Kurgat in the men's 5000m.
In the women's category, Faith Cherotich will face Kenyan-born star Winfred Yavi. Mary Moraa, the defending champion in the women's 800m, will be battling it out with Great Britain's Keely Hodgkinson, her countrywoman Georgia Hunter Bell, and Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma.
Defending champions such as Faith Kipgeyon (1500m), Karsten Warholm (400m hurdles), Yaroslava Mahuchikh (high jump), Mondo Duplantis (pole vault), Yulimar Rojas (triple jump), and Ryan Crouser (shot put) are among those heading to Tokyo.
A total of 200 countries have fielded their world beaters for the championships. The event is the third time it is returning to Japan, after the 1991 edition in Tokyo and the 2007 Osaka show. The entry list published by World Athletics is full of athletes who have dominated podiums this season.
Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who has been unstoppable lately, goes to Tokyo as the fastest man this season in the two-lap events. Cornelius Kemboi and Mathew Kipsang automatically qualified for the World Championships at the national trials on July 22. Kenya selected its best athletes in July, with some surprising late entries such as Stanley Waithaka Mburu.
The World Athletics Championships will take place in Tokyo on Saturday. With such a talented lineup of athletes, the competition promises to be intense and thrilling. Stay tuned for updates on the performances of Team Kenya and other participating nations.
