Athletics: Champions cut down in Kenya

KENYA yesterday left out seven Olympic or world champions from their team for Barcelona following the national trials in Nairobi, writes Mike Rowbottom. After a concentrated day of competition, the cull of famous names made that of the US Olympic trials appear no more than a mild trim.

Four Olympic champions from Seoul will miss the opportunity to defend their titles later this month - Paul Ereng (800 metres), Peter Rono (1500m), John Ngugi (5,000m) and Julius Kariuki (3,000m steeplechase). Three world champions from Tokyo last year will also be missing - Billy Konchellah (800m), Moses Tanui (10,000m) and Moses Kiptanui (3,000m steeplechase).

Not all of the omissions are a surprise. Ngugi, who had been intending to compete in the 10,000m this year, failed to finish a 5,000m race at the Kenyan national championships last month owing to a hamstring injury.

Konchellah, a long-time sufferer from asthma, has shown little form this season, running only a couple of races after a training spell in Austria in which he failed to get below 1min 50sec.

Ereng, who returned to Nairobi a fortnight ago after running badly in the Seville Grand Prix, has been reported to be free of injury but short of conditioning. 'He is nearly a stone overweight,' one Kenyan journalist commented.

Ngugi, five-times winner of the world cross-country title, pulled out of the 10,000m - won by Richard Chelimo in 28min 30.52 sec - after four laps, saying he had breathing problems. Tanui quit after 10 laps, complaining of fatigue.

Ereng could do no better than fourth place in the 800m after being spiked twice. Konchellah could finish only 12th.