Alice Aprot Nawowuna‘s performance in the (direct) 10000m final on 12-August in Rio, yet again reflected on her rapid ascent into the world elite of women’s distance running. Entering 2016 with a personal best of 31:24.18 for 10000m, Nawowuna went undefeated in cross country, while winning both Kenyan and African titles, followed by her earning outdoor track national and African titles in the 10000m, and setting a new personal best and ’16 world no. 1 time of 30:26.94 in the latter race held in Durban. These accomplishments earned Nawowuna an at-large selection for the Kenyan Olympic team in the 10000m, to join Kenyan Olympic Trials 1-2 finishers in the event, Vivian Cheruiyot and Betsy Saina.
In the Rio 10000m, Nawowuna immediately joined the lead pack that set an aggressive, world-record pace, then proceeded to lead the race from 1000m through the 5000m mark, which was reached in 14:46.81. During the second half of the race, Nawowuna was passed by eventual Olympic Champion Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia (setting a new world record of 29:17.45), Vivian Cheruiyot (2nd in a new Kenyan record of 29:32.53), and late in the race, by defending Olympic Champion Tirunesh Dibaba (3rd in 29:42.56). Nawowuna’s 4th place time of 29:53.51 established a new personal best and moved her to 2nd on the Kenyan all-time list (behind Cheruiyot) and 5th on the world all-time list for the event. It’s also worth noting that Nawowuna’s first and second 5000m segments of 14:46.81 and 15:06.70, were 30 seconds and 10 seconds faster, respectively, than her current 5000m personal best.
In other action on the opening day of track and field in Rio, Alfred Kipketer and Ferguson Rotich each advanced out of the 800m opening round to reach the semi-finals, finishing 1st (1:46.61) and 2nd (1:46.00) in their respective heats. Finally, Philip Milanov in the Discus qualifying round threw 62.68m for 12th place overall, also advancing him to the final. The men’s 800m semi-finals and Discus final will both be held on 13-August.
(Photo Run)