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Jairus Birech Ready to Attack the Steeple AgainPublished by
World-Leading Steeplechaser Birech Aims Big in 2015Published by IAAF on December 4, 2014 For the past three years, Jairus Birech has been a mainstay on the IAAF Diamond League circuit but a coveted spot on the Kenyan team for the global championships has largely eluded him; for now, at least. Back in 2012, the 21-year-old from Eldoret ran an eye-catching time of 8:03.43 as a teenager but only finished the year ranked fifth domestically. He would have been a shoo-in for a spot on the team for the London Olympics in any other country but he insists the rivalry among Kenyan steeplechasers – despite being fiercely competitive on the track – is not an ill-tempered one. “No, no, no. Not at all. It’s a friendly rivalry,” smiled the easy-going, softly-spoken Birech in the week leading up to the World Athletics Gala in Monaco where he was acting as an ambassador for Nairobi’s bid for the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships. Birech dominated the commercial circuit in 2014, winning nine of his 12 races at his specialist distance including the African Championships and IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech. He was among the initial list of 10 candidates for the 2014 World Athlete of the Year award but despite missing out on the cut, Birech uses this as fuel for the season ahead. “I thank God I was on the shortlist but not making the top three keeps me focused for next year and maybe then, I can be among the top three,” said Birech, who added that Nairobi winning the bid for the World Youth Championships more than made up for not making the final cut. Read the full article at: www.iaaf.org
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