Former Africa Games 5,000m silver medalist Rosemary Wanjiru Monica is optimistic that records are there to be broken as she plans to cut into the Kenya team for the Olympic Games set for Tokyo, Japan next month.
Speaking in Eldoret after speed work at the Kipchoge Keino stadium ahead of Athletics Kenya Olympic Games trials, Wanjiru said the battle in Tokyo will be great and she wants to be part of the record breaking in Tokyo n 10,000m.
Netherlands Sifan Hassan broke the 10,000m world record on Sunday but Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey lowered the time on Tuesday night to give Wanjiru a reason that a record can be broken anytime, anywhere by anybody.
“People set records and records can be broken by the same people. As I prepare for the national trials next week, I want to do my best so that I make the team for the Olympics and through that I will compete against the world beaters and record breakers in Tokyo,” said Wanjiru.
She said that she is optimistic of cutting into the team that is so crowded with Kenyans who have already earned qualifying time unlike her who has not competed on track for long.
“The national trials won’t be a walk in the park. It will not be easy as this is just like the mini Olympics. Now that Hassan has run well and Gidey too but I don’t fear especially us Kenyans, we don’t fear winning or losing at the same time,” expressed Wanjiru.
She added that Hassan set the record and as Kenyans they can set the record too, urging Kenyans to support them since they don’t fear breaking the records.
“We will go there and do our best, run like Kenyans with good support and bring medals to Kenya. Today (Tuesday), I trained in short intervals, which were good and my body has been responding well, hoping by next week I will run my trials very well in the 10,000m,” she added.
Wanjiru wants to debut at the Olympics with hopes of winning a medal after finishing 4th at the world championships in 2019.
“As I make this debut, I don’t see if there is a big difference between Olympics and World championships. What I know is that everybody has prepared very well for the trials and it will all depend on who has prepared better than others to carry the day,” she said.
“The first thing is to pray to God to make the team. So far I have not run any race but my competitors have run very well earning that qualifying time about ten of them have qualifying time. I have not competed on track for long but am ready,” she added.