Competition between brothers sometimes does not augur well for team cohesion.
The national cross country squad in Embu, however, is seeking to use the sibling rivalry to the advantage of the squad that is heading for Edinburgh, Scotland for the World Cross Country Championships on March 30.Double Africa champion in 5,000m and 10,000m Mathew Kisorio and his younger brother, Peter Kimeli, are a stark contrast, save for their resemblance.
The more talkative Kisorio, a bronze medallist in the Mombasa world championships last year, believes his younger brother is getting too close to him for comfort, and he is watchful lest he is overtaken.
At 19, Kisorio has set his mind on the senior competition and knows he only has one cross country competition, in Edinburgh, before leaving the junior mantle to younger brother Kimeli.
The two are members of the 8km junior men's team that is camping at Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu, together with other athletes making the national team.
Their father, former athlete Some Muge, was a Kenyan international and cross country pioneer who won a bronze medal in 5,000m in the East and Central Africa athletics championships held in Jinja, Uganda in 1983.
"I believe we inherited our running skills from our father. But, I want to live my own life and attain higher success than what he got in his day. That way, I will see him as a living legend," says Kisorio.
The brothers have been running seriously for the Kosirey Secondary School athletics team.
Last year, when they turned up for the national cross country trials at Ngong, it was Kisorio who triumphed and joined the team while Kimeli faltered. Kisorio went on to win a bronze medal in Mombasa in a race that was won by Asbel Kiprop.
"I am keen to finish off the job this time round. I missed out in Mombasa and I have a last chance to do it before moving to the senior ranks," he said.
Kimeli, however, did not give up. He went back to the drawing board and came back stronger, challenging for the slot during the explosive trials this year. He finished eighth and was given a wild card berth to link up with the rest in camp.
"After the trials race, I was dejected for not making the team as only the first five across the line were assured. But the coaches saw my skill and running tactics and called me to camp. I have since put in extra effort and was happy to make the cut when the final squad was named," said Kimeli.
The two brothers believe their task in Edinburgh will be more than their individual rivalry.
"We have always been fighting as brothers. But here we will stick together until the last lap, then it will be everyone for himself," said Kimeli.
The two have another brother, Peter Some, who is also an athlete, though he is still young.
"These two athletes have impressed me. They are focused in training and I have made them to start complementing each other, it is the only way they will learn to help one another, which is good for the team," said Julius Kirwa, the team head coach.
Kisorio, who will not be eligible to race in Poland in July during the world junior athletics championships, hopes his brother will be able to rule the roost in the 5,000 and 10,000m.
"That he must win, but in Edinburgh, I want to bow out of junior cross country competition with victory and I know I will get it," said Kisorio.
Also in the camp are world junior cross country 6km girls' champion Linet Masai and her brother, Moses Masai.
The two do not interact openly, preferring to keep to their set of friends. But, occasionally, they catch up on lost time and talk about family issues.
Linet has graduated to the senior ranks and, just like her brother, has been signed up by Kenya Police.
Both are Kenya Police champions in 12km senior men and 8km senior women races respectively, and they showed their grit and potential in staging superb performances during the national trials.
"We usually train together when we are at home. But here it is different, we are grouped under our respective teams and might not be close together," said Linet.
Moses, relishes the challenge he anticipates from Ethiopian icon Kenenisa Bekele and Eritrea's Zersenay Tedesse in the battle for the gold medal, and looks forward to using the assistance of national champion Gideon Ngatuny, Joseph Ebuya and Augustine Choge.
The Masai siblings also have another brother, Nicholas, who is also a junior runner. He failed to impress in the qualifiers, but he, too, is destined for better things when he comes of age.
Youngster Chebet Cheptai is a cousin of former world junior cross country 6km champion Pauline Korikwiang, and the two were in the same camp.
However, Korikwiang was dropped from the team, with the coaches opting for the experienced Priscah Jepleting.
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