Kenya's runner Jelimo blames tactics for poor show in London

Nairobi, Aug 16 (IANS):

Kenya’s Pamela Jelimo has blamed poor tactics for her failure to retain her Olympic title. Russian Mariya Saminova ended her reign as the women’s 800 metres crown holder in London.

Jelimo who became the first woman from Kenya to win an Olympic track title in Beijing four years ago is now focused on redeeming the loss at the Moscow World Championships next year.

“I cannot say I was not in good shape but I did a small mistake that cost me in the final. I still believe that I will do much better next time starting the World Championships,” Jelimo told reporters when the team arrived in Nairobi from London Wednesday, reports Xinhua.

The World Indoor gold medallist who ran 1:57.59 for fourth place in the London 2012 medal race took off for the line with 350m to go against the advice of the coaches who had signalled her to sprint for the line with 200m left.

“You could see she was tired at the finish since we had planned that she should stick behind Janeth Jepkosgei whom we had asked to go through the first lap in 56 seconds which she did.”

“We wanted her to kick from the final curve but she still managed to run a good time despite missing on the gold,” athletics head coach, Julius Kirwa, disclosed.

Jelimo’s title was one of the four Kenya ceded at London with the country’s runners failing to hold on to both men’s and women’s 1500m titles and the men’s marathon that went to Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich. Kenya returned with two gold, five silver and four bronze medals.

“I cannot say that we were mistreated as a team but we must learn how to listen and work with our coaches in future. I know I have to draw my plans early so that I do well at the World Championships next year,” the Beijing champion said.

She will only take a short break before returning to competition at the Lausanne, Birmingham and Brussels legs of Diamond League where she is aiming to bag her first circuit title since she blew all competition to lift the last IAAF Golden League crown in her breakthrough 2008 season.

“Even if it does not make up for the Olympics, winning the Diamond League will be a huge honour and motivation for me. What remains is to keep in focus and shape so that I can be competitive by the time the next Olympics come in four years,” Jelimo asserted.