The 2020 Olympic 1,500m silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot has lamented Kenya’s fading dominance in the metric mile, blaming the country’s lack of proper training facilities for the dip.
For eight straight years, Kenya were untouchable over the distance at the World Championships.
Asbel Kiprop opened the golden chapter in Daegu 2011, going on to defend his crown in Moscow 2013 and Beijing 2015.
Elijah Manangoi then carried the torch in London 2017 before Cheruiyot stormed to the world title in Doha 2019.
But in recent editions of the global showpiece, Kenya has failed to grace the podium in the men’s event, a stark contrast to the once unshakable grip.
The change in the 1,500m, he said, is mainly due to Kenya’s lack of proper facilities.
”There is a change in the 1,500m because we lack proper facilities. The Europeans and Americans are working hard, and they are very committed. There are a lot of good facilities in Europe that we lack in Kenya,” Cheruiyot said.
The 29-year-old added that rival nations have also studied Kenyan tactics and adjusted accordingly.
To counter this, Cheruiyot revealed he has moved his training for Tokyo to St. Moritz, Switzerland.
”Changing training ground has taught me a lot. I have seen how other athletes train and how other coaches handle their athletes,” he said.
”I hope one day we can have the facilities I see in Europe in Kenya. We have so much talent. Our only problem is facilities.
On Thursday night, Cheruiyot finished fourth at the Zurich Diamond League final, timing 3:30.13.
The Netherlands’ Niels Laros claimed the trophy in a national record time of 3:29.20, with Reynold Cheruiyot (3:29.91) and Phanuel Koech (3:30.02) completing the podium.
Cheruiyot, who trains alongside Laros, acknowledged the 20-year-old Dutchman’s influence on his racing.
”I have been training with Niels since January. He is a strong athlete. He has been pushing me,” he said.
Even so, Cheruiyot admitted that a tactical misstep cost him in Zurich.
”The race was good, I just got my calculations wrong. I did not kick in time. I was blocked by Yared Nuguse with 120m to go, so I did not come out well,” he said.
With the Tokyo World Championships looming, Cheruiyot remains hopeful of reclaiming the crown.
”I hope to be in good health before Tokyo,” he said. ”I am praying to be a world champion again and I hope Tokyo will be the stage.”
During the 2019 edition, Cheruiyot stopped the clock in 3:29.26 to secure the title ahead of Algeria’s Taoufik Makhloufi (3:31.38) and Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski (3:31.46).
Before that, he had won bronze in the 2017 edition in London, crossing the finish line in 3:33.99 behind Manangoi (3:33.61).
by TEDDY MULEI
