Mathew Kipkosgei wants to prove a point after landing an invite to compete at the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour on April 20 at the Nyayo Stadium.
The 20-year-old failed to make the team to the Africa Under 20 Championships in Cali, Colombia in 2022 and the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The former student at St Francis Kimuron High School in Elgeyo Marakwet said he has had to pick up the pieces and start again after failing to take part in the two major events.
“This time, I am ready for the Kip Keino Classic. I missed two important events and I would love to relaunch myself this year’s event,” said Kipkosgei, who trains in Kapsabet under coach Claudio Barardelli.
The son of the 1986 World Junior 3,000m SC champion William Kosgei said his dream is to be better than the father over the distance. “I earned a ticket for the world U-20 show but I was never drafted into the team for reasons only known to the organisers. For Budapest, I was told I didn’t meet the anti-doping testing threshold even after placing third at the national trials,” said Kipkosgei.
He said his father is his biggest strength and has even decided to print his name on his running T-shirt.
“His tips have helped me overcome many challenges. I want to return Kenya to where they belong in the steeplechase by emulating legends like Ezekiel Kemboi, Brimin Kipruto and Conseslus Kipruto,” he said.
He said Kip Keino will be his second event at the senior ranks after National Trials last year. “I am determined to win my race to prove that I am capable,” he added.
His father Kosgei was a student at St Patrick’s Iten and won gold during the inaugural World Junior Championships in Athens, Greece.
He competed alongside Peter Chumba who won both 5,000m and 10,000m gold at the event while Wilfred Oanda Kironji, then a student at Cardinal Otunga, won gold in 1,500m.
