Kenya's Rudisha, Cheruiyot seek to double at Olympics

NAIROBI - World record holder David Rudisha as well as women 5,000m and 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot have been given the all clear to double at London 2012 subject to qualification.

Athletics Kenya (AK) confirmed on Tuesday that Rudisha's wish to be among the 4X400m relay team had been accepted while Cheruiyot will compete at both the 10,000m Trials on Saturday and the 5,000m selection event on June 23.

"We have no problem with any athlete who qualifies for two events provided he or she does so at the trials. Vivian has indicated to us that she will run the two races and the week between them will give the athletes enough time to rest.

"Rudisha and three other runners have qualified in 400m but we shall request him to compete at the Africa Championships in Benin so that our team cannot lose the number 8 ranking we have," federation chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said.

Other notable runners eyeing the London double include Linet Masai, the women 2009 world champion over 10,000m, and Sally Kipyego, who won silver at the same race ahead of her last year in Daegu.

The women 10,000m trial will be held on Saturday in Nairobi during the final day of the Kenyan National Championships that will also be used as qualifying rounds for other distance races including the 3,000m steeplechase.

"We shall only have straight finals during the Olympic trials on June 23 so the qualifying rounds will be held during the Nationals with the semifinals being staged on June 21, two days before the trials," Kiplagat explained.

"The two days we have given is enough for athletes to recover and give their best while those wishing to double in the 5,000m and 10,000m will have a week to rest."

Meanwhile, the federation has slammed plans to fly the distance running team for a three weeks camp at the city of Bristol ahead of the start of the Olympics on July 27.

"We have no problem with the sprinters going there for the camp but we have written to the Olympic Committee telling them we cannot send distance athletes to London that early.

"They are concerned three weeks is to long and they will lose all the benefits of high altitude training if they go to Bristol for that period so we have advised they should not travel at that time," Kiplagat charged.

National Olympic Committee of Kenya entered agreement with Bristol City to host the selected team for London for three weeks last year.