Newly-crowned national champion Roncer Kipkrorir decries high Olympic qualification standards

Newly-crowned national champion Roncer Kipkrorir decries high Olympic qualification standards

Abigael Wafula 10:30 - 23.05.2024

The 2023 Prague Half Marathon champion Roncer Kipkorir has complained of the high Olympic qualification standards, hence his reluctance to bid for a ticket to the global bonanza.

Shanghai Half Marathon champion Roncer Kipkorir has lamented on the high Olympic qualification standards, noting that it is the main reason he will not be vying for a ticket to the global bonanza.

The qualifying standards for the men’s 10,000m at the event are 27:00.00 and Kipkorir believes they are too high for him to attain. However, he explained that qualifying for continental events is way easier as he looks to represent the country at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships.

During the national championships cum trials for the Africa Senior Athletics showpiece, Kipkorir won the race in a time of 28:33.00 ahead of Joseph Kiptum who finished second in 28:34.00. Stanley Njihia completed the podium, stopping the clock at 28:34.700.

Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya Instagram handle for more news.

“I have hopes to qualify for the Africa Championships because the Olympic qualification time is so high. I have many half marathons I’m planning to compete in, last year I won a couple and I’m hoping to extend the winning streak to this year,” he said after the race.

Meanwhile, the 2022 Prague Half Marathon champion also explained that his preparations for the event were okay and he was able to address most of his challenges going into the 25-lap race. As he heads to Cameroon, Kipkorir hopes to impress and hopefully claim the top honours in the event.

“I’m happy about today’s race since I had prepared well and was expecting to win. I’ll be expecting to win when I got for the Africa Championships and I will also be debuting at the event,” he said.

He started his season with two half marathons, Barcelona Half Marathon and the Shanghai Half Marathon and noted that it has been a long while since he competed on the track.

After learning of the National Championships, Kipkorir went into training and motivated himself to work extra hard, something that paid off well at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.

Tags: