What awaits Kenyan stars at World Indoors

Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia. [Xinhua]

With top guns firmly focused on the podium places and making statements in the World Indoor Championships set for Nanjing, China from tomorrow, ="https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/amp/sports/article/2001514136/why-lilian-odira-will-be-among-stars-to-watch-at-world-indoor-show">the Kenyan cast< is facing the strongest opposition yet.

The thirst for honours will be quenched, but from the squads fielded by different countries participating in the 2025 World Indoor showpiece, the competition will be a tough affair.

A blink will definitely cost a serious contender a podium place.

In the men’s 3000m and 1500m for instance, the only Kenyans Cornelius Kemboi and Festus Lagat will have to contend with Norwegian top gun Jakob Ingebrigsten – a double Olympic champion and two-time world gold medallist.

The 24-year-old Norwegian competed in the 2022 World Indoors and has previously competed once in world indoors, and settled for silver in the 1500m race.

In this year’s world indoor show, he is doubling 1500m and 3000m.

Among Kenyan middle-distance track stars, former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot has been his match in 1500m, but he is not in Nanjing for the world indoors.

That leaves Lagat, the little-known track racer from Uasin Gishu, but who is based in US with the sole duty of dethroning the Norwegian.

Great Britain’s Neil Gourley and Adam Fogg and Morocco’s Anass Essayi are also among strong contenders for the 1500m podium spots in Nanjing. Cornelius Kemboi, a winner of the 5000m race at the 2023 Stadion De Veen Night of Athletics who was unsuccessful in his bid to represent Kenya at the 2024 Paris Olympics will take on Ingebrigsten and other global stars in the 3000m showdown at the world indoors.

With steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, the only Kenyan medallist in last year’s world indoor not flying her country’s flag this year, Purity Kajuju Gitonga, will be the woman to watch. 

Chepkoech had bagged a bronze in the women’s 3000m catfight in 2024 Glasgow showpiece.

Kajuju will have to perform a miracle as she takes on track superstars among them Ethiopians Freweyni Hailu, the Glasgow 24 1500m champion and her compatriot Birke Haylom in the battle for glory in the women’s 3000m.

This time, the women’s 1500m looks even more competitive, and Kenya has deployed Susan Ejore, who will be up against 5000m world record, Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.

Ejore, the Kenyan woman to watch, alongside Dorcus, will also face a strong opposition from Tsegay’s countrywoman, world 1500m silver medallist Diribe Welteji.