Africa junior 3,000m champion Emmanuel Kiplagat believes his dream to represent the country in the senior ranks is almost coming true as he targets a World Under 20 Championships and Olympic Games double.
The Baringo-born runner started his journey towards the two events with comprehensive wins at the Central Rift WU20 pre-trials held at the Eliud Kipchoge Sports Complex in Kapsabet, Nandi County.
Kiplagat, who sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) last year, won the 3,000 and 5,000m double on Saturday and feels he feels he is in the right shape to finally hit the jackpot.
“My dream is to win a medal for Kenya at the Olympic Games, especially gold,” said Kiplagat. “I have been training well and I hope this will bear fruits once I make the team.”
However, Kipla The ambitious runner, who competed at the national Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), winning double in 5,000m and 1,500m, won the 3,000m and 5,000m titles to make the team for the national trials set for July 1st and 2nd at karasani before the championships on August 17th to 22nd at the same venue.
“This is my good year and I want to run and get good results. If I cut into the Olympic Games team, I will get experience and then use the same for the World under 20 championships back home,” said Kiplagat.
At the pre-trials, he won the 5,000m title in 14:12.1 beating Nandi’s Levi Kibet to second timing 14:13.0 before West Pokot’s Fredrick Tomon completing the podium in 14:18.34.
In the 3,000m race, he led a 1-2 podium finish for the Baringo based team under Coach Barnabas Kitilit. Kiplagat crossed the finish line in 8:14.3 ahead of compatriot Gilbert Kiprotich (8:15.1) and Frankline Kiptoo (8:23.8) in third.