Kenya’s John Korir crosses the finish line during the 129th Boston Marathon in Massachusetts, on April 21, 2025. [ AFP]
Chicago Marathon champion John Korir is optimistic Kenyan charges to the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships will cement the country’s legacy as the sport’s powerhouse.
Korir, who was tipped for the marathon cast but chose to defend his Chicago 42km title has asked the country’s top guns give the internationals contest set for September 13 – 21 their all.
The Boston Marathon champion asked Kenyans to rally behind Team Kenya as they prepare for Tokyo25 and during the competition.
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According to Korir, an athlete who has in recent years rose through the ranks, thousands of Kenyan athletes who did not make the team to Tokyo are cheering their compatriots in their hunt for medals and glory for an expectant nation.
“I would wish them (Team Kenya) the very best and when they go out there you know that you have all Kenyans behind you,” Korir said on the sidelines of Uasin Gishu Half marathon on Sunday.
The fast-rising marathoner went on to say: “All Kenyan are on your shoulders, just ensure that you don’t let us down. Bring the medals home.”
Meanwhile, while Korir was wishing well the team preparing for Tokyo World Championships, Cornelius Kemboi and Mathew Kipsang was toasting to a superb 5000m race in Oordegem, Belgium.
The winner and automatic qualifier for the Tokyo World Championships during the national trials on July 22, triumphed in the 5000m at the IFAM Oordegem, confirming his place in Team Kenya. He timed at impressive 12:57.80, which is faster than the 13:01.00 qualifying mark for the men.
Kemboi had been placed on the waiting list of athletics stars who qualified to fly the Kenyan colours in Tokyo next month but were still chasing qualification times.
Kipsang who had powered to an automatic qualifying spot at the national trials also hit the required time in Oordegem, about two weeks to the close of the qualification window.
The long distance track star placed sixth in 12:58.61 to join Kemboi and Olympian Nicholas Kimeli in the chase for World Championships glory next month.
Kipkorir was the only Kenyan man in the 5000m who had the qualifications to compete at the World Championships at the time of the national trials last month.
They will be joining other track athletes in Eldoret for training in preparation for the international show, after meeting the standards.
“The qualification time has not come to an end and some of the athletes could qualify up to now,” Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei said two days ago about qualification.
According to Tuwei, the federation was clearing all hurdles in preparation for the team to Tokyo.
He said Tokyo-bound middle and long distance stars were already training at the High Performance Training Centre run by track legend Kipchoge Keino in Uasin Gishu.
“For the middle and long distance athletes, we have them at Kazi Mingi Farm (Kipchoge Keino High Performance Training Centre) located on the outskirts of Eldoret,” said Tuwei.
The AK President said the federation had allocated coaches for the middle and long distances in Eldoret.
“All we are doing now is administration to make sure that they are properly and adequately kitted,” he said.
He continued: “We have two camps already. We have a camp for sprinters at Kasarani. Fortunately for us, when we discussed with the Ministry of Sports and Sports Kenya and CHAN team, they accepted to allow us use the warm up track at Kasarani. All our sprinters are in Nairobi and will be heading to Miramas (France) if we succeed in having a good discussion.”