• The seasoned tactician urged the federation to monitor promising junior athletes closely, ensuring Kenya remains stocked with top-tier talent for future championships.
• Speaking after winning gold in Lima, Alamisi highlighted that coming into the race his focus was to push hard to secure gold.
Image: WORLD ATHLETICS
National athletics coach Julius Kirwa reckons Andrew Alamisi’s gold medal in the 5,000m at the World U20 Championships signals Kenya’s readiness to reclaim its long-lost dominance in the distance on the global stage.
Alamisi won Kenya’s first gold medal in the men’s 5,000m at the U20 championships in Lima, Peru, on Tuesday clocking 13:41.14 to edge out Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) and Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop (13:41.73).
His compatriot and 2023 World U20 cross country champion Ishmael Rokitto missed out on the podium, placing fourth with a time of 13:42.27.
Their female counterparts, Mercy Chepkemoi and Sheila Jebet, however, missed out on the podium, placing fourth (15:33.29) and fifth (15:51.93) respectively.
Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa set a course record time of 14:39.71, leading her compatriot Mekedes Alemeshete (14:57.44) and Uganda’s Charity Cherop (15:25.02).
Kirwa sees Alamisi’s victory as a promising step forward as Kenya eyes the 5,000m title at next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
“Alamisi’s performance is very commendable. It shows a lot of promise as far as the 5,000m event is concerned. It shows a brighter future for the nation in international competitions where we have been falling short,” Kirwa remarked.
Kenya has been chasing an elusive Olympic title in the men's 5,000m at the Olympics since John Ngugi's Seoul 1988 triumph.
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, Ronald Kwemoi bagged silver behind Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen.
Since Benjamin's Limo triumph at the Helsinki 2005, Kenya has also found it hard to bag a title at the World Championships.
Last year in Hungary, Budapest, Jacob Krop won bronze behind Spain's Mohamed Katir and Ingebrigtsen.
The seasoned tactician urged the federation to monitor promising junior athletes closely to ensure Kenya remains stocked with top-tier talent for future championships.
“There’s no doubt Alamisi will attract new management. The federation must step up and keep tabs on these young medallists—know their coaches, monitor their training and track the races they participate in locally and internationally,” he asserted.
Kirwa also pointed out that the shift to road races has derailed the careers of many promising athletes.
“Many athletes excel as juniors but fade away at the senior level. Switching to road races has derailed the promise of numerous talents. Alamisi and his coach should identify his ideal race and focus on it,” Kirwa emphasised.
Speaking after winning gold in Lima, Alamisi highlighted that coming into the race, his focus was to push hard to secure gold.
“I wanted to win gold for my country. The preparations I had done were sufficient and I was confident I would do it. I am now a gold medallist not just a double silver medallist,” Alamisi noted.
Alamisi won two silver medals from the 2023 Commonwealth Youth games in Trinidad and Tobago in the 1,500m and 3,000m.