Andrew Alamisi is laser-focused on breaking the World U20 5,000m record at the World U20 Championships in Lima, Peru, on August 27-31.
Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega holds the record of 12:43.02 set in 2018 at the King Baudouin Stadium in Brussels, Belgium.
Alamisi met the 14:08.00 qualifying standard for this year's World U20 Championships after placing second (13:43.54) behind Ishmael Rokitto (13:42.71) at the national trials on Friday at the Nyayo Stadium.
“I am glad I was able to make the team for Peru. My focus is to break the 5,000m record. It’s a feat I know I can achieve,” Alamisi said.
In addition, he remains determined to bring home gold from South America.
“The U20 championships are not easy. Athletes from all over the world will be fighting for medals. My resolve, however, is to come back home with a gold medal,” he stated.
The 16-year-old believes teamwork, alongside Rokitto, will be key to their 1-2 ambitions.
“We will work together with Ishmael in Peru to ensure we secure gold and silver for Kenya,” Alamisi said.
Recent podium finishes in major championships bolsters his confidence.
“I finished on the podium in my recent races, a motivating factor ahead of the U20 championships,” he noted.
Alamisi’s recent exploits internationally include a silver medal at the Atletica 2000 meeting in Italy on June 2 where he clocked 13:05.55 behind Burundi’s Egide Ntakarutimana.
He has a trophy after winning the 3,000m race at last month’s 3rd Lucca International meeting in Italy, finishing in a time of 7:57.37.
Compatriot Kamar Etiang followed closely in 7:57.73 with Ethiopia’s Regasa Beharu (7:58.73) sealing the podium.
He is a silver medallist from the 2023 Youth Commonwealth Games in Trinidad and Tobago, clocking 8:04.35 in the 3,000m behind compatriot Jospat Sang (8:03.65) and ahead of Uganda’s Victor Cherotich (8:19.31).
He struck a silver medal in the 1,500m in 3:38.12 behind Sang (3:37.66).
They will seek to dethrone Ethiopia, who won the title at the 2022 edition of the U20 championships in Cali, Colombia, through Addisu Yihune (14:03.05).
"They won’t pose a significant threat. I know how to handle them," he said of the Ethiopians.
His training in Iten alongside World 10,000m silver medalist Daniel Ebenyo has been pivotal.
“I train in Iten under coach Erick Kogo. Our camp has some top athletes including Ebenyo. Training alongside him has helped me a lot,” he noted.
Kogo highlighted the huge role Ebenyo played in the 16-year-old’s qualification for the junior championships.
“I can attribute Alamisi’s qualification for the World U20 to the push and support he receives from Ebenyo in training,” Kogo stated.
Alamisi is focusing on his final kick, aiming to improve his speed after being outpaced in the trials.
“I want to improve my speed. During the trials, I did not have the speed in the final 100m and that's where Rokitto outpaced me,” he noted.
