NAIROBI, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will continue to struggle to win in men's 10,000m and 5,000m races because the competitions scarce and are not offering much rewards to contestants anymore.
The country is having it rough in the two events at major global championships and was humiliated in London World Championships, where only Paul Tanui was able to grab a bronze in the 10,000m as Britain's Mo Farah and Ethiopia athletes reigned supreme.
However, head coach Julius Kirwa believes that Kenya will continue to struggle in the two races because potential athletes to challenge for medals are opting to jump straight to the marathons where there is more races and rewards in terms of prize packs.
However, Kirwa said there is potential in finding quality athletes who will replace former world champions Eliud Kipchoge (2003) and Benjamin Limo (2005).
"Our production line has remained active and our athletes are the most sought after. But we must be realistic, these athletes need to be paid and there need to be a perfect programme to make them look at the events favourable," he said.
"What we have now are more of second string athletes going for these events at the grassroot. There is more reward in joining the marathon and there is nothing we can do to stop them."
Kirwa noted that the graduation of 2015 world 10,000m silver medalist, Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Paul Tanui and Bedan Karoki to marathon, has left Kenya with a herculean task of filling the gap the two have left.
It will take Kenya long to get good talent to fill the big gap left by 2015 world 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot when the athlete scaled up to the marathon.
"We have the likes of Agnes Jebet, Alice Aprot and Irene Cheptai but they will need to train well to match their Ethiopian rivals," said Kirwa.
"Mo Farah might have left track but we need to groom athletes for men's 10,000m. The field is small and lacks top quality."
Jebet won bronze in women's 10,000m as Cheptai and Aprot, who won gold and silver respectively at World Cross Country Championships in March in Kampala, failed in their quest for medals in London.
