Why are Kenyans Such Great Runners?

KENYA has produced some of the world's outstanding sporting talents when it comes to long-distance races over the years. So, it was on expected lines when the country's athletes once again dominated the long-distance races at the 13th IAAF world Championship in Daegu, South Korea.

However, one wonders, what keeps the Kenyan runners going great guns on the world stage? Is it the food, weather, altitude, good training or is it because of the fact that majority of Kenyans master the art of long-distance running at a young age when, unlike schoolchildren from other countries, they usually to run to school.

There are certain theories by experts on why Kenyans excel in the long distance category. First of all, it is believed that Kenyan athletes have slender legs which enable them to run fast. Another theory is that the vast majority of Kenya's brightest running stars were born and raised at high altitude. Running at higher elevations builds greater lung capacity, because athletes grow accustomed to the thinner air. Another theory is the diet. Kenyan food is remarkably basic. It comprises mainly small amounts of roasted meat, cooked greens, fruit, milk and, ugali, a thick, polenta-style cornmeal porridge.

Made from maize (corn), which is traditionally smashed by hand into flour, ugali serves as the national dish of East Africa Even more, almost three quarters of all of Kenya's athletics come from one tribe, the Kalenjins, who live in the Kenyan highlands. The tribe constitutes over one-tenth of the Kenyan population. The present group of Kenyan athletes, except for David Rudisha, are Kalenjins.

Speaking to Qatar Tribune, Sandro Giovannelli, an IAAF technical official for 40 years, said that athletics were a passport to fame and fortune in Kenya. "I'd say that the tough life in Kenya produces bright athletes. Right from young age, you can see them running around to their schools and bringing fruits and woods from forests for their homes. Most of them spend their childhood running. The high altitude air also strengthen their lung power as most of Kenya is situated at 2,000m or above sea level. So, when these athletes participate in long-distance race events, they are able to use that lung power to their advantage. It goes without saying that the Kenyan runners are extremely hard working and focused," he said.

And Giovannelli is true to the word. Kenyan runners left their imprint on the first day at Daegu itself by sweeping the medal's tally in the women's marathon event.

'New York Marathon' champion Ednah Kiplagat took gold in 2:28.43 seconds, winner of 'Paris Marathon' Priscah Jeptoo bagged the silver in 2:29.00 while Sharon Cherop settled for a bronze in her season's best time of 2:29.14.

Vivian Cheruiyot wasn't far behind. Cheruiyot retained 5,000 metres title in addition to her gold medal performance in 10,000 metres. Compatriots Sally Kipyego and Linet Masai finished second and third in 10,000 metres respectively. Another Kenyan, Priscah Cherono, finished fourth.

Thus, Kenyan athletes took the first four spots in the 10,000 metres category.

Only one country has won all the three medal spots at world championships twice before. Ethiopia achieved this for the first time in Edmonton in 2001 and again in Helsinki in 2005.

However, no country has ever managed to take the first four places in the women's race before.

That wasn't all. Kenyan athlete Sylvia Kibet won silver in 5,000 metres. Kenya bagged more medals after the country's runner David Rudisha — the world record holder — clinched the 800-metre gold.

Asbel Kiprop, another Kenyan athlete, won gold medal in the 1500m, the first ever by a Kenyan in the category in the world championships.

The biggest challenge to Kenya athletes comes from the neighbouring East African country, Ethiopia. For years, Ethiopia has been the greatest threat for Kenyan long distance runners. It all started with Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie who was declared by world media as the "best long distance runner ever lived on the planet". Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele a multi-world champion in men's 5,000m and 10,000m dominated the races. However, despite the absence of Bekele in the men's 5,000 and 10,000m races in Daegu, Kenya missed out on a medal. Kenya lost out to Ethiopia's Ibrahim Jeilan in the 10,000m, and its officials were unhappy with the miss.

Daegu was only one of the several major track and field events where Kenyans have excelled in recent past. For instance, the late Samuel Wanjiru won at the 2008 Beijing Olympics in a Games record time of 2:06.32, thereby becoming the first Kenyan to win the Olympic gold in the men's marathon category. The following year, Wanjiru won both the 'London Marathon' and the 'Chicago Marathon', running the fastest races ever recorded in the UK and the US respectively. Later, women Olympic champions Pamela Jelimo and Nancy Lagat won the 800m and the 1500m, respectively.

Explaining why Kenyans are good runners, 1,500m Commonwealth champion, Silas Kiplagat of Kenya, said, "We've the weather (high altitude) which helps the runners. But the good thing about the Kenyan athletics is that there are good coaches to support you. Athletes are also focused and have a strong desire to excel in any conditions.

The successes of the Kenyan runners draw fellow countrymen to become athletes. In my opinion, these are the reasons why the Kenyan runners are the best in the world." Moses Kiplagat, coach and husband of double gold winner Vivian Cheruiyot, said that the Kenyan athletes lead a strict disciplined life. They are always particular about training, events and food and sacrifice a lot just to make Kenya proud in athletics.

"Kenya has a massive talent pool and the domestic competition is tough. During the events athletes know that there are only two or three places at stake, but all aspirants turn up and participate in real competitive spirits. Sometimes almost 5,000 athletes contest in the 3,000m or 5,000m.

So, the efforts to boost athletics a few years ago are now yielding the benefits," he said.

Janeth Jepkosgei Busienei, a qualifier for the 1,500m final in World Athletics Championship at Daegu, said, "I think it takes serious training and a disciplined life for the Kenyan athletes to flourish at the international stage. The Kenyan athletes are very dedicated and try to contribute 100 percent whenever they are on the track. I'd also say that the Kenyan government, national federation and crowd are all doing their bit to encourage athletes. The coaches are also playing an important role in taking the Kenyan athletics to higher levels." The Ethiopian prowess in long-distance races has gone down in the last few years, which has aided Kenya's ascendancy.

Ethiopia finished ninth at Daegu with Kenyan women sweeping more medals that Ethiopia's runners. Explaining on Ethiopia's decline in long distance running, Surafel Aseefa Hailesilassie, a reporter of Ethiopian TV2 channel, said, "The Ethiopian athletics body is not bothered about the decline that has set in our system. It is more focused on money. This is the main reason why our athletes are not performing well. We need people who are concerned about our athletes. Until we bring about some drastic changes in the attitude of the athletics officials, the Ethiopian athletics will continue to go down."