Aprot out to emulate brother Ebuya and bag gold

Having watched the national anthem ring out to celebrate her elder brother’s senior men victory at the 2010 IAAF World Cross in Bydgoszcz, Poland, Alice Aprot is more motivated than ever to return from Rio 2016 Games as an Olympics champion.

The African women 10000m champion has exploded to form over the last two seasons after missing out on selection for the 2015 IAAF World Championships in Beijing and has set her sights on emulating elder sibling, Joseph Ebuya, by bringing the gold medal home.

Aprot will be making her Olympics debut after being given wildcard selection by Athletics Kenya (AK) thanks to her outstanding performance at the 20th CAA Championships in Durban, South Africa.

Despite the cold breeze at the Kings Park Stadium, she led compatriots Jackline Chepng’eno and Joyline Jepkosgei across the line in 30:26.94, 31:27.73 and 31:28.28.

“In Durban I was motivated and determined to improve my performance so I kept the pace I was comfortable with. That’s how I managed the gold and Team Kenya wildcard,” she delightfully gushed.

The 22 year-old will team up with two-time 10000m World Champion Vivian Jepkemoi Cheruiyot and USA based Besty Saina in the medal hunt Friday week as track and field action sets off at the iconic Maracana Stadium.

“We are going on with our training well and we shall go to Rio to come with gold. We know Kenyans are expecting good results from us and Cheruiyot is ensuring we don’t fail our country since she is more experienced,” Aprot told Citizen Digital.

Aprot witnessed the medal ceremony where Ebuya was awarded gold and knew she would one day make the podium despite clocking 19:14 for position nine in the women junior 6km race at the same event.

“When my brother won the gold medal, I was with him in Bydgoszcz. I was very happy and inspired by him. We had both gone to represent our country.

“When I saw him at the podium being given the medal, I told myself if my bother can win gold, then I can also bag one. I want to be like or better than him.

“That motivated and inspired me a lot and that is why I’m able to perform in athletics” the African Cross champion added.

“Ebuya encourages me a lot and advices me on my training since he used to run 10000m before he shifted to marathon. I’m not thinking of shifting to marathon so I shall hold on to 5000m and 10000m and do the best I can.”

Aprot had a less-distinguished career as a junior having won only the women 5000m bronze medal at three international events but since her resurgence as a senior, she has already pocketed the All African Games and African Championships titles.

“As a junior, my performance was not that great since training was a bit of a challenge to me and I was not that serious. My training never lasted longer than 30 to 40 minute.

“When I graduated to senior my first event was cross-country. Though I finished with a bronze medal I realized people actually take running seriously and can really run,” she narrated.

“I learnt that the most important thing in my career is training and when I got back home it was serious training with a lot of discipline. I used to train with other senior athletes until my body got accustomed,” the soft-spoken African champion added.