Jorum Okombo in training.[photo/michezoafrika.com]Jorum Okombo has fired a warning to his rivals in the forthcoming IAAF World Half Marathon Championships after being selected alongside two-time winner and defending champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Bedan Karoki, Leonard Barsoton and Barselius Kipyegon in Kenya’s team for the race slated for March 24 in Valencia, Spain.
Okombo, the two time Eldoret Family Bank half marathon champion, is happy that he was selected to Team Kenya for the first time and now wants to reward that faith with victory in the Spanish city.
“It feels good to run for your country. I will do my best though we have big names like Kamworor who is a two-time world half-marathon champion. I am not scared of them, we will meet on the course and I know I will come out victorious,” said Okombo.
Okambo, who finished second at the 2017 Copenhagen half marathon, has been dominating local road races and that is perhaps why Athletics Kenya senior vice president in charge of competitions Paul Mutwii named him in the 2017 squad that also has Joyceline Jepkosgei, Fancy Chemtai, Ruth Chepngetich, Pauline Kaveke and Mary Wacera vying for honours in the women’s category.
The 21-year-old Okombo won the 2016 Family Bank half marathon, a timing at 63.16 to the surprise of many in Uasin Gishu county as it is assumed athletes from Western Kenya are only good in short and middle distance races.
Iten-based Okombo started running while still in secondary school but did not get a chance to go further until 2016 during the Family Bank half marathon where he tried his luck and won before improving his time to 58.48 in Copenhagen a year later.