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Kenya athletes warned against burning out ahead of Rio Olympics

Xinhua, March 29, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenyan athletes have been warned against competing in many events in the build up to the Rio Olympics in August.

Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jack Tuwei said Tuesday the athletes need to reserve their best performances for the Olympics as the country seeks to improve on the two gold medals it won in London.

"We have a strong team and the issue is who do we take to Rio. The trials for team selection will be tough and I expected the best to make the team. But it is important that we compete sparingly so as to preserve our energy for the Olympics," said Tuwei in Nairobi when he hosted the World Half Marathon team to breakfast.

Kenyan team returned home from successful World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Wales where they won almost all the medals on offer.

Only David Rudisha and Ezekiel Kemboi won gold for Kenya in London and the officials are keen to widen the scope and help the county attain the feat of Beijing 2008 where the county won six gold medals.

Last year at the Beijing World Championships, Kenya won seven gold medals to top the world and Tuwei believes a similar performance in Rio will boost the country ranking.

Already the battle for tickets in marathon and 10,000m is shaping up and it promises to be explosive.

There are over 20 marathon runners who have clocked under 2:05:00 for men and 2:20:00 for women. Yet only six - three women and three men - will be making the trip to Rio. Endit