Former world 800m champion Eunice Sum has read mischief in women taking up 800m as she prepares for Olympic Games set for Tokyo, Japan in July.
The 2013 world 800m champion said women are still struggling and if they retire, there will be a big gap and the new generation is not competitive enough to take over since she ran with her mentor Janeth Jepkosgei.
“I have represented Kenya for the last eight years but I have not seen serious competitors in the race, unlike men who are offering serious competition as they challenge top runners. Every year, new athletes emerge in men unlike us. We still have a big challenge, hoping new talents will emerge every year just like in men,” said the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion.
The former Africa champion said there is a problem with transition since many female athletes run well at the youthful stage but fail to successfully transit into senior ranks.
“Many athletes may run well in juniors but fail to replicate the same in seniors. It has been a challenge all through be it in men or women. We also have athletes that we train together but they have not got that qualifying time that poses a big challenge in succession,” added sum.
She acknowledged that they have started losing in 800m because of lack some training facilities and lack of failing to commit during training seriously.
“Some foreign athletes like Ugandans and Burundian train in Kenya but since we are not doing the same, we end up losing to them. They come to train here then go ahead to beat us. For girls, we are somehow sleeping in middle distance running,” she added.
For the Olympic Games, Sum said she has started the early build-up for the 2020 Olympic Games. Last year, she had an injury hence failing to start the buildup in earnest.
Sum, who has competed in two Olympic Games, has failed to win a medal, finishing 38th and 19th in the 2012 and 2016 respectively.
“The injury forced me to miss many Diamond League series. Though it is early to talk about Tokyo as an athlete, I really want to cut the ticket into the national team for the Olympic Games just like any athlete across the world. Am fit now for any race after recovering from an injury and I have begun going for long runs as part of my build-up,” said Sum
Source: The Star Newspaper