Kenyan born athletes in US Army to represent the US in Olympics

Posted by Jambo 

EUGENE, OREGON (Army News Service) — Spc. Shadrack Kipchirchir and Spc. Leonard Korir qualified for the 2016 Olympic Games by finishing second and third respectively in the 10,000-meter men’s finals at the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Track & Field, held July 1, in Eugene, Oregon. Their times were 28:01.52 and 28:16.97.

Veteran runner Galen Rupp racked up his eighth 10-K title with a time of 27:55.04.

The fourth-place runner, Scott Fauble, came in some distance behind Korir, at 28:45.53, so it was mainly a battle between the top three runners — and only the top three were eligible to qualify for the Olympics.

Kipchirchir explained the race strategy he and teammate Korir used, noting that they ran the 10-K on their own terms, not swayed by the pack that bunched out ahead for the first part of the race.

Rather, he said, they ran at their own pace, using experience as their guide. Eventually, the herd out in front tired from expending their energy so early and after several laps, Kipchirchir broke out, passing them one by one, followed later by Korir. Rupp, however, maintained his lead pretty much throughout, with Kipchirchir close on his heels for a time.

Kipchirchir and Korir’s coach, 2004 Olympian at Athens and Oregon Army National Guard Maj. Dan Browne, explained the importance of placing:

“Everyone dreams of competing in the Olympic games,” he said. “The Olympic trials have a pressure about them that in some ways is even greater than the Olympic games because in order to medal at the Olympics, you’ve first got to become an Olympian and it’s that status of being an Olympian that all these athletes are dreaming of. It’s a huge test of mind, body and spirit. There’s a lot of pressure out there.”

Both Kipchirchir and Korir, along with Spc. Paul Chelimo, are scheduled to race in the 5,000-meter men’s preliminary, July 4, and possibly move on to the finals, July 9, in Eugene. That gives them a chance to capture a second U.S. Olympic team spot.

Chelimo said he wishes his teammates well in the 5-K. He said he has a slight advantage because he’s had more rest since competing in the World Indoor 3-K in March and Kipchirchir and Korir will have had just two days’ rest before tackling the 5-K.

Kipchirchir agreed with Chelimo that more rest would have been nice between the 10-K and 5-K races, particularly since the July 1 race was “brutal,” with a stiff wind and temperatures in the upper 80s F.

However, Kipchirchir said he and teammate Korir are still in their peak-zone, meaning their bodies and mind are primed for the 5-K. They’re especially motivated to repeat their performance, he said, after this win. “An opportunity like this comes just once in four years.”

“The Army gave us a job to do and we’re going to do it right and compete and fight hard in the 5-K,” he added.

OTHER ARMY ATHLETES

A fourth Soldier, Staff Sgt. John Nunn, won the 20-K race walk, June 30. Although his time of 1:25:36.10 was not fast enough for Olympic qualification, he placed in the 50-K event in Santee, California, earlier this year, so his ticket too is punched for Rio.

Browne explained that it’s not always enough to win the trials — that an international standard time must be met by athletes in order to compete in the Olympic games. He noted that Nunn’s stronger race is the 50-K anyway, so he should do well in that.

Other Soldiers who have shots at winning a place on the Olympic team are Spc. Marcus Maxey, who will compete in the 110-meter hurdles July 8, and Sgt. Hillary Bor, who will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase, July 4.

WINS FOR THE ARMY

Kipchirchir said he and Korir dedicated the 10-K to Soldiers everywhere on the Fourth of July weekend, marking their dedication and sacrifice, the race being a token of that.

“That’s the best way we could honor them,” he said. “We’re fighting for them.”