NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 6 – After edging a pulsating race in the men’s 1500m, Brian Komen has committed his hopes for gold in God’s hands.
Komen, who will be donning the Team Kenya singlet for the first time in his career, was non-committed on his target for the 13th edition of the games.
“I leave it all in His hands…I can’t say much as per now. If He chooses to give me gold then I will be so grateful,” the 25-year-old said.
Komen further conceded he is not the finished product yet, noting that he is going to use the short period left before departure to fine-tune himself.
“I am going to prepare myself well so that I can achieve what I want. I need to improve on my endurance a bit as is the case with my speed,” he said.
Komen clocked 3:38.26 to win the men’s 1500m at the national trials for the African Games at the Nyayo Stadium on Wednesday afternoon.
He finished ahead of 2022 World Indoor 1500m bronze medalist Abel Kipsang (3:38.57) and Iten’s Kamar Etiang (3:40.27) in second and third place.
The winner described the race as a tactical one in which only the smartest and coolest head could prevail.
“I had prepared myself for the last 200m. The key for me has always been to kick away in the last 200m. That’s how I’ve learnt to beat my opponents,” he said.
Kenya has enjoyed a lot of success at the African Games as far as the men’s 1500m is concerned.
At the last edition in Rabat, Morocco in 2019, George Manang’oi clocked 3:38.27 to clinch first place.
Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman finished second in 3:38.44 as another Kenyan, Charles Simotwo, clocked 3:38.51 to complete the podium.
