Unrivaled Obiri wins 10,000m for the second Tokyo Olympic ticket

Two-time world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will double in both 5,000m and 10,000m at the Tokyo Olympics.

Leading from gun to tape, Obiri clinched victory in the women’s 10,000m in 30:53.60 just two days after securing her first vticket in the women’s 5000m, after finishing second.

“I am hungry for an Olympic gold medal and therefore I will do my best in Tokyo to see that I achieve that dream,” said Obiri.

“I think I will do my best. It won’t be easy but I have alot of experience after I competed in both events at the Doha World Championships,” she added.

The 2017 World Cross Country champion Irene Cheptai will once again return to the national team after close to half a decade.

“It feels good to be back in team Kenya. It is never easy to make a comeback from maternity leave,” said Cheptai.

Earlier on, Hellen Syombua and Cleophas Kipruto stormed to victory in the women’s and men’s 400m respectively as Kenya’s Olympic trials entered its final day on Saturday.

Syombua, the national record holder has already attained the Olympic qualification time in the distance and was nevertheless warming up for Tokyo Games.

“I think today the weather was a bit favourable to me. I will now go back and improve my finishing power as I prepare for the Olympics. I know it won’t be easy but I will try to make it to the finals,” said Syombua.

In the corresponding men’s race, Cleophas Kipruto emerged the winner and although he came short of the Olympic qualification.

“I am happy with my performance. I was trying to push for qualification but I didn’t make it,” Kipruto said.

US-based athletes Emmanuel Korir and Moitalel Moore who did not compete today are the only athletes who have attained qualification for Olympics in the one-lap race.