(AFP)For all of the country’s distance running pedigree, it beggars belief that it has been 53 years since Kenya won as an Olympic gold in men’s 10,000m. The late Naftali Temu was the last Kenyan to deliver gold when he returned 29:27.4 to beat Ethiopian Mamo Wolde at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. Not even Paul Tergat, the current President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya who once set a world record in 1997 wore the 10,000m Olympic gold medal. Yet on Friday, the country will be united behind Rodgers Kwemoi, Rhonex Kipruto and Weldon Lang'at urging them to do bring it home at the Tokyo Olympic Stadium. Kenya’s Rodgers Kwemoi (bronze) poses with his medal a day after the atheltics men’s 10000m final during the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games at the Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast on April 14, 2018.

Source: Standard Digital July 30, 2021 09:45 UTC