Why the 10,000 metre duck remains elusive for Kenya

Naftali Temu winning the 10,000m at the 1968 Mexico City. (Courtesy)

One person who can fully understand Kenya's frustration in the 10,000 metres race at the Olympics and IAAF World Championships is Raila Odinga. He knows how everyone has expected him to win the presidential elections but something always happens. Kenyans are the kings of middle and long distance races yet the twenty-five lap race has been slippery.

At the ongoing Olympics in Paris, Kenya's representatives in the 10,000 metres race Benard Kibet and Daniel Matieko came in at fifth and eleventh positions respectively. The race was won by Ugandan Joshua Cheptegei who also broke the Olympics record. He had come second to Ethiopian Selemon Barega at the last games in Tokyo. We missed the podium in a race that we have come close to several times but never won. Kenya has won one gold and four silver medals in the history of the race.