Listed in the 10,000m for Team Kenya Kasait is preparing for the Olympics by challenging top Ethiopian runners in the 5,000m.
Former Africa Games 5000m champion Lilian Kasait is gearing up for a major showdown at the upcoming Monaco Diamond League, set for Friday, July 12.
Kasait, who is the sole Kenyan in the 5,000m event, is poised to take on a formidable Ethiopian contingent in what is anticipated to be a thrilling race.
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Kasait comes into the race with a personal best of 14:23.05 which places her well within striking range of Tsige Gebreselama of Ethiopia who holds a slightly faster personal best of 14:18.76.
Gebreselama, along with compatriots Marta Alemayo, Aynadis Mebratu, and a strong lineup of international athletes, makes up a challenging field that Kasait will have to navigate to clinch a victory.
Alemayo and Mebratu, both hailing from Ethiopia, boast impressive times of 14:39.61 and 14:22.76 respectively adding depth to the already competitive race.
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The field is further strengthened by the presence of Nadia Battocletti from Italy and Weini Kelati Frezghi from the USA, each bringing their best to the track with times of 14:35.29 and 14:35.43 respectively.
Also competing are Maureen Koster from the Netherlands and Lauren Ryan from Australia, who have shown formidable form with times of 14:44.46 and 14:57.67.
Rounding out the lineup is Japan's Nozomi Tanaka, who, despite a personal best of 16:20.61, is expected to add strategic depth to the race dynamics.
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This race not only serves as a platform for athletic prowess but also as a significant preparatory event for Kasait, who is setting her sights on the Paris Olympics where she will compete in the 10,000m.
Her participation in Monaco is crucial as it offers her an opportunity to gauge her form and strategy against some of the world’s best ahead of the Olympic Games.
Kasait’s journey to this point has been marked by challenges including a 10-month doping ban in 2022 after testing positive for a prohibited substance.