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By John Kwoba and Kimathi Kamau
ELDORET, Kenya, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The Olympic Games don' t come around every other year and the Kenya trials proved just that as big names tumbled and young turks staked claim to the throne in Eldoret in northwest Kenya on Friday.
Some of the giants that scrapped through include Olympic champion David Rudisha and Ezekiel Kemboi, who will provide the much needed steel around which the silk of the emerging talent will be wrapped around.
Rudisha, who is also the world champion, fought for his spot in the Kenya team scrapping through in third spot.
The 27-year-old is finding it hard to believe his change of fortune having four years ago stormed to victory in the Kenya trial in 1:42 seconds and went on to set a world record in London of 1:40.91.
But he will have to convince everyone else he is still the best in the discipline. On Friday, despite starting off strong in his trademark front running style, he found it hard to stop the younger athletes to take charge and both Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich took their chance and pushed forward.
Although Rudisha reserved his energy to sneak in third, the writing is on the wall, Kenya might have a new champion in Rio and Rudisha will have to fight every inch if he has to retain his title when the Olympic Games start on Aug. 5-21.
Rudisha has finally realized what it means to have featured in other people's dreams because when they woke up, he has had it hard to contain their attack.
But the King of 800m knows he did just enough to earn himself another chance to prove his critics wrong, just like he did in Beijing World Championships to win gold when everyone had written him off.
World 3,000m champion Kemboi reserved his best strength for the Rio Olympic Games after making the cut together with Beijing 2008 Olympics champion Brimin Kipruto, who won the race, and Conceslus Kipruto, the Commonwealth Games winner.
"I stay well and live well, that is the truth why I have been able to remain strong and competitive in this event. We have so many runners coming, but this will be my chance to become a true legend if I can win gold in Rio, my third," said Kemboi.
Indeed, Kemboi, 34, first won gold in Athens in 2004, but was a distant seventh in Beijing with Brimin Kipruto claiming gold.
He reclaimed his title in London in 2012 and hopes it will be his for the taking in Rio, which is likely to be his last Games.
"I have always been strong and at no time did I doubt myself. Today, however, after doing the hard work I allowed Kipruto to be second or third because it was not important at this stage. The real battle is in Rio and I believe we have a strong team," said Kemboi.
Meanwhile, it will take some special talent to deny Vivian Cheruiyot that coveted gold medal that has been missing in her collection.
Just 24 hours after she had beaten her rivals in the 10,000m, the diminutive athlete obliterated her opponents to win the 5,000m race.
Helen Obiri, the World Indoor bronze medallist, has returned from maternity and proved she too is in top form as she claimed second place while Mercy Cherono, the 2013 World silver medallist was third.
"I had many injuries last year, but peaked up towards the end and that is why I did well in Beijing. But I can confirm to you today that I am getting to the top form I had in 2011 when I doubled in Daegu, World Championships and won two gold.
"I believe I can do the same in Rio and it is up to the coaches to select me in both teams now," said Cheruiyot.
In the 1,500m race, Faith Chepng'etich, the World silver medallist showed her class to win easily ahead of Nancy Chepkomwoi and Viola Lagat.
In 800m, former World 800m champion Eunice Sum will return to the drawing board if she is to reclaim her title as she was beaten by World Junior bronze medallist Margaret Nyairera. Third place went to Eglay Nalianya.
In the men' s 1,500m race, Asbel Kiprop proved his form as he emerged from behind the pack to win. Enditem
