Ereng backs Kenya for 800m Olympic success

The 1988 Olympic 800m champion Paul Ereng has backed Kenyans to shine over the two-lap race at the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.

Kenya has bagged gold medals in the men’s 800m race for the past three editions of the Olympic Games with Wilfred Bungei in 2008 before David Rudisha reigned supreme in both the 2012 and 2016 editions.

As Kenya enters the post-Rudisha era, Ereng believes the trio of Michael Saruni, Ferguson Rotich and Emmanuel Korir who were selected during last week’s Olympic trials will deliver at the Tokyo Games.

Ereng who coaches both Saruni and Korir at the University of Texas in the US hailed the pair after a dominant display at the trials where Saruni came first in 1:45.81 with Korir placing third in 1:46.05 behind Rotich (1:45.93).

“I think the boys are very talented and did very well at the trials and I am very happy they will represent our country at the Olympics.

At the moment let me not dwell on their strengths or their weaknesses, let the go and bring victory home and then we will analyse their performances then,” observed Ereng.

The two-time World Indoor champion intimated that times have changed since his golden days to the current generation of athletes.

“I think a lot has changed since then, most notably the technology. Nowadays we have new shoes, new diets and even scientific coaches coming on board,” he said.

At the same time, Ereng said the women are fast closing on the gaps with the men especially in distance races.

“If you have observed closely both 5k and 10k, you will find that the women are catching up with the men. I think previously women did not have the support and the opportunity which they now have and are thus getting better,” said Ereng.

The 54 year old also coached former world champions Ezekiel Kemboi (3000m steeplechase) and Janeth Jepkosgei (800m) at the junior level.