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Twenty-year-old, Michael Kibet, made a statement Thursday with a 13:34.84 5000m run on the track at Nyayo National Stadium. The meet is the Kenya pre-trials for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Finishing second was Moses Njoroge in the time of 13:36.11. He was followed in by Mark Owon 13:44.66.
A second section was won by Emmanuel Kiprop in the time of 13:37.00. Victor Kiprop and Kibet Ndiema clocked 13:37.40 and 13:37.80, respectively.
Kibet did not qualify for the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships as he failed to meet anti-doping requirements. Now, Kenya in the A testing pool must follow more stringent protocols. The Athletics Integrity Unit requires athletes to go through three out-of-competition and one in-competition doping test to be eligible for the world championships. Countryman Daniel Simiyu was also denied the opportunity to compete in Doha for the same reason.
Kibet has now put himself in a position to run for Kenya in the Tokyo Olympic Games. Selectors are using the pre-trials meet to scout potential talent for Tokyo.
Like many athletes, Kibet is working and training with the Kenyan Police Service.
The Olympic standard is 13:13.50. He has run as fast as 13:11.08 during the initial Tokyo Olympic qualifying window
