Summary
– Lilian Kasait targets improved performance at Paris Olympics.
– Plans rigorous training to enhance speed and skills.
– Aims for better results after Tokyo disappointment.
Kenyan athlete, Lilian Kasait, aims for a stronger showing at the upcoming Paris Olympics, her second Olympic appearance.
Kasait, a World 5km silver medalist, plans to focus on improving her weaknesses through rigorous training.
She emphasizes the goal of enhancing her speed and overall performance to achieve better results. Despite a disappointing 12th place finish in the women’s 5000m at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, Kasait views the experience positively and seeks improvement for the upcoming competition in Paris.
Kasait will be flying the national flag in the women’s 10,000m, following her impressive performance at Saturday’s Prefontaine Classic where she clocked 29:26.89 to clinch third place.
“I am happy…I wasn’t expecting that. I am happy to make the Kenyan team for the Olympics and also for the result in Prefontaine,” she said.
Kasait was additionally in awe of fellow countrywoman, Beatrice Chebet, who clocked a world record of 28:54.14 in the same race to clinch first place.
“It was an amazing result…we are happy for her and she deserves it,” the 2013 World Youth 3000m champion said.
Even as they head to Paris, a gargantuan task awaits them in the French capital where either one will be attempting to become the first Kenyan to win the women’s 10,000m at the Olympics.
Kasait believes the secret to success is hard work.
“I wouldn’t say or know what we need to do in order to win the title but I believe it is only through hard work that we can make history. Hard work and teamwork,” she said.
A third athlete to represent Kenya in the 25-lap race will be selected at the national trials.
Lilian Kasait Profile
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk (born 3 May 1997, Keiyo District) is a Kenyan female long-distance runner. She won the bronze medal in the women’s senior race at the 2017 World Cross Country Championships.Kasait is the former 3000 metres World Under-18 champion and World U20 Championship silver medallist.
In September 2022, Kasait was banned for 10 months commencing April of that year due to the use of hormone therapy drug.
Career
Kasait had her first successes in 2013, winning the Kenyan youth trials race before beating Ethiopia’s Berhan Demiesa to take the 3000 metres title at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Athletics. The following year she placed fifth in the junior race at the African Cross Country Championships, sharing in the team gold. She pre-fixed a win at the Kenyan junior trials with a 3000 m best of 8:53.41 minutes on her IAAF Diamond League debut in Doha.
At the 2014 World Junior Championships in Athletics, however, she was outdone by American home athlete Mary Cain, leaving Kasait with the silver medal.
Kasait’s 2015 season was prematurely curtailed and she did not fare well at the 2016 African Cross Country Championships, managing only tenth in the junior race that year. She failed to make the top three at the Kenyan junior track trials that June.
She emerged a much improved athlete in 2017 running in the senior ranks, starting with runner-up finishes at the Discovery Cross Country and the Kenyan Cross Country Championships; she was the only athlete to keep pace with Irene Chepet Cheptai in the national race.
The Kenyan women’s team was very strong for the 2017 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and Kasait took the bronze medal in the senior race as part of a Kenyan sweep of the top six places, where Cheptai was the victor.
Although Kasait won the 5000 metres at the Kenyan Police Championships and the Kenyan Athletics Championships, she missed out on World Championships selection at the trials meet. She did perform well on the Diamond League circuit, having her first top three finish at the Prefontaine Classic in a personal best of 14:36.80 min, as well as setting a best of 8:32.73 min in the 3000 m at the Herculis meet.
She opened her 2017–18 cross country season with wins at the Tuskys Wareng Cross Country and Campaccio.
In 2019, she competed in the senior women’s race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark. She finished in 12th place.
Doping ban
In September 2022, it was announced that Rengeruk had been banned from athletics for a period of 10 months commencing April 2022 for the use of hormone therapy drug Letrozole.
Personal bests
- 3000 metres – 8:28.96 (2021)
- 5000 metres – 14:23.05 (2023)
Circuit wins, and National titles
- Diamond League
- 2018: London Anniversary Games (3000 m)
- Kenyan Athletics Championships
- 5000 metres: 2017
