Reigning 3,000m steeplechase world champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya says he has suspended his retirement plans “after running like a youth” at the world championships in Beijing to clinch a fourth straight world championship gold.
“I felt I was going to retire but I ran like a junior so I will continue to run,” Kemboi told a breakfast meeting convened for the returning Kenyan athletes yesterday.
Kemboi, 33, captained the Kenyan team which received a triumphant welcome home from Beijing, with Kenyan Deputy President William Ruto hosting returning athletes at his official residence.
Kenya clinched a total of seven gold medals to top the medals standings in Beijing.
Kemboi said most of the team members travelled directly to Zurich for the Diamond League and a section went to Congo Brazzaville for the All African Games.
“Beijing is behind us. The good news is that all the athletes who participated in Beijing met the Olympic qualifying marks,” said David Okeyo, the vice president of Athletics Kenya and an IAAF council member.
Kenyan athletics managers played down doping allegations which have cast a shadow of doubt on the country’s athletics record.
Athletics Kenya president Isiah Kiplagat, who announced his retirement from the position, said the country lacked proper athletics facilities to train more athletes and the available national stadiums lacked the proper facilities.
He accused sports officials of diverting funds set aside for facilities improvements.
