NAIROBI, Kenya, November 2 – After winning the senior men’s 10km race at the third leg of Athletics Kenya (AK) Cross Country Series in Iten, Robert Kiprop was quick to dedicate the win to his hometown fans.
The 2019 African Games 5000m champion says he was encouraged to compete in the race by his family and friends who vowed to turn up in their numbers and cheer him on.
“You know I come from here; this is my hometown and last year I won in this same race. I have been preparing for it for quite some time and did not even take part in the first and second leg of the series. My family and friends told me to concentrate on this leg because they wanted to come and watch me in action and I am happy that I have made them proud,” the Breda Half Marathon champion said.
Kiprop stopped the timer at 30:38.7to grab victory, ahead of Asbel Kiprono ( 30:47.7) and Vincent Kiptoo (31:20.4).
His physical preparedness notwithstanding, the 27-year-old adds that he was always confident in his abilities, coming into Saturday’s race.
“I am an athlete who believes in himself and is always highly motivated. I was determined to win today and always believed I could do it. When I saw that my closest competitor was falling off with 1.5km to go, I knew I had to take that chance and take the lead. All along I had maintained my pace and stuck to my tactics because I knew I would strike at the most appropriate moment,” Kiprop said.
Besides pocketing Ksh 50,000 for the win, Kiprop says the race was just what the doctor ordered for his track and field season.
“From here, there is a race that I am supposed to compete in abroad and then return. My ultimate focus is on the Tokyo World Championships as is the same case for all of us. I just want to take it one step at a time, maintaining discipline because that is very crucial if you are to achieve your goals as an athlete,” he said.
Kiprop missed out on this year’s Paris Olympics but represented Kenya at February’s Africa Cross Country Championships in Hammamet, Tunisia where he finished 13th in the senior men’s race – clocking 30:03.
