Cheruiyot:No Olympic wild cards?ill qualify for my double on track..

Double World champion Vivian Cheruiyot has no qualms about her 5000 and 10000m qualification for the London Olympics at the Kenyan trials despite an earlier guarantee of a wild card but in the longer race.

Athletics Kenya, AK promised me a wild card in the 10000m this would have worked well for so then I can compete in the 5000m at the Olympics trials,” Cheruiyot told sportsnewsarena.com in Doha ahead of Friday’s Samsung Diamond League.

“But maybe they were forced to change because a few other runners are keen to double in London…Whatever the case I am ready for it as I want race in both events at the Olympics,” she added with smile on her face.

AK on Wednesday ruled out any wild cards selection for the Olympics, as it plans to hold the women’s 10000m trials a week before selecting the London bound team on June, 23.

“This is to allow those women who would like to double in the 5000m and 10000m to participate in the Trials for 5000 after the one week rest,” argued AK chairman Isaiah Kiplagat.

Besides Cheruiyot, undoubtedly the toast of Daegu with a double triumph, Sally Kipyego- the World silver medallist and the bronze medallist in the same race Linet Masai are the possible double contenders in London.

For now she has her eyes set on getting her Diamond League season started with an emphatic win in the women’s 3000m.

She will be racing against a classy field led by Ethiopia's Mesaret Defar, whom she has only beaten once over the 3000m distance.

Defar, a seasoned racer at the Doha track, had an arduous past season dropping out in the 10000m at the Worlds and only managing third in the 5000m, and losing her indoor title to Kenya’s Hellen Obiri in Istanbul, will use the race as an assessment for the Olympics.

“I want to see and test how ready I am for the Olympics. I want to test my speed and shape,” said Defar. “After racing here and Rome (May 31) then I will decide whether to double in London,” added the 2010 winner in Doha.

“Last year was a great year for me and I hope to carry on the same trend this early in the season,” Cheruiyot revealed of her expectations at the Qatar Sports Club at the pre-event press conference.

The race will also include Sylvia Kibet, a two-time world silver medallist Prisca Cherono among others.

The focus on the women’s 800m will be the renewed duel between Olympic champion Pamela Jelimo and Janeth Jepkosgei, their 16 meeting between the two Kenyans.

Jelimo has leads the head-head record winning nine out of six and is looking to register her first major win after exceptional indoor season that climaxed with the world indoor win in Istanbul.

“I am looking to see how I will run and perform tomorrow (Friday), after being out for sometime,”said Jelimo.

3000m Women entry list

Maryam Yusuf Jamal BRN

Nazareth Weldu ETH

Wude Ayalew ETH

Gelete Burka ETH

Meseret Defar ETH

Feyisa Bertukan ETH

Gotytom Gebreslase ETH

Stepanie Twell GBR

Nancy Chepkwemoi KEN

Priscah Cherono KEN

Vivian Cheruiyot KEN

Sylvia Kibet KEN

Janet Kisa KEN

Margaret Wangari KEN

Makestad Bovim NOR

800m

Tamsyn Manou        AUS

Yusneysi Cabellero   CUB

Fantu Magiso            ETH

Emma Jackson          GBR

Luka Tintu                IND

Koech Cherono       KEN

Pamela Jelimo           KEN

Janeth Jepkosgei      KEN

Eunice Sum               KEN

Ekatererina Kupima RUS

Molly Beckwith         USA

 Evelyn Watta in Doha

© All rights reserved