Emmanuel Wanyonyi: World Record Pushes Me To Work Harder

Emmanuel Wanyonyi reckons mens One Mile record motivates him to work harder as he prepares to represent Kenya for the first time at the Olympic Games.

The world 800 metres silver medalistwhois fresh from running a world-leading time of one minute and 43.57 seconds in the two-lap race at the Kip Keino Classic on April 20 at Nyayo National Stadium, yesterday set a road mile world record at the Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany, finishing with a time of three minutes and 54.5 seconds.

The Road to Records, now in its fourth edition, is an event designed to make a running history at the Adidas headquarters in Germany, and athletes compete in a loop.

The 19-year-old broke the previous record of 3:56.13 over one mile (1,600m) set by American Hobbs Kessler in October last year at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

Afterwards, Wanyonyiwhois a member of 2Running Athletics Club, told Nation Sport that he didnt expect to clock the fastest time in the distance given that its not his specialty.

We have less than three months before the Olympic Games in ParisandIm going back home to continue with my preparations because I know it will be tight and every athlete is eyeing the race, Wanyonyi said on phone from Germany on Saturday.

As you are aware, the Kenyan trials are just like a championship and are very tight, so I have to qualify and be selected to join the national team and then prepare for the real game because it will be my first Olympic Games event, and I want to impress, Wanyonyi told Nation Sporton phonefrom Germany.

On Saturday, Americas Kessler finished second behind Wanyonyi in 3:57, while South Africas Ryan Mphalele was third in 3:57.

The World Road Running 5km bronze medalist, Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya, missed the womens only world record by two seconds in the 10km race after running 30:03 ahead of her compatriot Margret Chelimo who timed 30:39. Jesica Chelangat of Kenya finished third after timing 30:46.

Jebet started Saturdays race on a high note. After the pacemakers had dropped off, she surged forward, with Chelimo in towupto the 6kmmarkwhere she engaged another gear and led up to the finish line.

Jebetinaninterviewsaid that she had set her eyes on lowering the world recordbutit proved hard as the race wore on. She has vowed tolowerthe record in thenextevents.

Ofcoursethis year Im longing to compete in the Olympic Games in the 10,000mbutafter missing the world record here by two seconds, its hard to accept itbutI believe I will achieve it soon, she told Nation Sport on phone.

Jebet believesthat herseasonwouldbe great after finishing fifth at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, SerbiainMarch. Her main focus now remains to qualify to represent Kenya at the Olympic Games.

In the mens 10km race, Nicholas Kimeli ran a brilliant race before surging forward in the last three kilometres and taking control of the race to the finish line, where he clocked 27:04 ahead of his compatriot Sabastian Sawe (27:06) and Burundis Rodrigue Kwizera (27:07).

In the 5km womens race, Ethiopias Medina Eisa bagged victory after timing 14:38 ahead of her compatriots Melknot Wudu (14:40) and Fotyen Tesfay (14:41)comingin second and third positionsrespectively. Kenyas Diana Chepkorir finished fourth after clocking 15:01.

Ethiopias Yomif Kejelcha led his compatriot in winning the mens 5km racetiming13:00 ahead of Addisu Yihunewhotimed13:05whileBahraini Birhanu Balew was third in 13:12. Kenyas upcoming Raphael Dapash was in fourth place after clocking 13:13.

In the womens One Mile race, Kenyas Nelly Chepchirchir crossed the finish line in a personal best time of 4:31 ahead of USAs Addison Wileywhoclocked 4:32 with Great Britains Alexandra Bell finishing third after timing 4:33.

Distance running legend Haile Gebreslassie of Ethiopia said that Wanyonyi would have even broken the record by two secondsbuthe started celebrating early. Gebreslassie said he was happy that the race had finally produced a new champion.

Many of the Adidas athletes are doing wellandin the next threemonthsthey will be meeting with the worldanddiscipline in training is the key. The sport brings us togetherandwe are a family, said Haile.

A world record, world junior record and nine national records were achievedduring the race.