NAIROBI, June 23 -- Former world cross champion Agnes Tirop's journey from career threatening injury back to stardom is almost complete as she sealed her spot in the Kenya team winning the 10,000m race during the national trials in Nairobi on Friday.
Tirop, 21, led from the front as she claimed the women's 10,000m in a fast time of 31:56.00 ahead of reigning world cross country champion Irene Cheptai 31:56.04 while Africa 10,000m winner Alice Aprot (32:16.07) was third.
It is a victory for Tirop in her quest to overcome personal challenge of recovering fully from her right leg tendon injury, which she picked up on her way to win gold in Guiyang.
The injury punctured her sails and derailed what looked to be a promising career for the then 19-year-old.
"I am happy to make the Kenya team. Winning here was not that important because the war is not being fought here but in London. I want to show my critics that I have gone over the tough part of my injury and am ready to showcase my talent and win the world title," she said on Friday.
It will be a tall order to demand Tirop to fill in the shoes of sensational Vivian Cheruiyot, the world champion and Olympic 5,000m winner.
Cheruiyot, who has since moved up the ladder to the marathon distance, said she is confident Tirop and her two partners Cheptai and Aprot will weather the storm in London.
"I believe they have the stamina and strength to fight against the Ethiopians. But it is not just about the opponent, they need to find their own strength and let their legs do the talking," she said.
Tirop agrees saying she does not expect a walk in the pack in London.
"You always wonder if you will come back strong and whether your body will take the challenge. I have done well in training and now it is about time I prove myself on the world stage again," she said.
In the men's 5,000m race, Kenya will be represented in London by Cyrus Rutto, who clocked 13:31.05 ahead of Davis Kiplangat (13:31.7) and Josephat Kiprono 13:35.3.
It was justice served fairly as Rutto, missed out of Kenya team to Rio Olympics last year despite finishing third during the Rio Olympic trials but was sidelined for lack of experience.
World youth 3,000m silver medallist Davis Kiplagat held on to claim second spot as Geoffrey Koech settled for third in 13:33.9 in one of the close at finish to seal the last place in the 5,000m team.
"I feel great to qualify straight after having sidelined for the Olympics in Eldoret," said Rutto.
It is a new team noting that veteran Edwin Soi, a former Olympic bronze medallist, was a distant sixth. World 5,000m silver medalist Caleb Mwangangi failed to start.