Africa 3,000 meters steeplechase champion Richard Mateelong has expressed confidence that Kenya will continue its tradition of winning the steeplechase at the Beijing Olympics. "I stepped up my training and avoided much of the cross-country season. That's why I am running well. I am aiming to secure my place in the national team at the trials and from there, anything is possible," Mateelong told journalists late Thursday.

Kenya has won every Olympic gold medal in the steeplechase since 1968 and Mateelong says the tradition should continue in Beijing.

"I will compete in the 5,000m race for my endurance build-up before the national trials. This year they will be very tough since we have good runners invited to try for a place in the national team," he added.

Mateelong, an instructor at Kiganjo Police Training College who arrived for the Inter-Provincial Kenya Police Championships that start on Friday in Nairobi said he has been training at the Athletics Kenya (AK) mid and long distance camp in Eldoret since returning from Hengelo where he won the city's grand prix in 8:13.00 last month.

"The training conditions at the camp are good and morale is high. I support the initiative but they should have set much earlier," he noted.

The steeplechaser who set his seasonal best of 8:07.64 on May 9 while winning the lucrative Doha Grand Prix said his aim was to get the top medal in Beijing after playing second fiddle to Brimin Kipruto and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi.

"One cannot say that he will win for a fact but I believe that it can be achieved if the form I have now and physical condition remains the same. I will not relent on training until I achieve my goal," he said.

"According to the way we have been running, we are progressing well and I don't see why we should be the generation to let go of that great tradition of winning gold," said Mateelong.

"I am confident we shall do well despite the fact that we shall have opposition especially from Kenyan athletes running for other countries, we shall work hard and win the gold again."

The Kiganjo based policeman has been in great form this season winning three races last month.

He won the African title and followed it up with a win at the Doha Super Grand Prix on May 11 before winning in Hengelo.

While expressing satisfaction with his form so far, Mateelong said that his main concern right now to ensure he makes the Beijing team at the July 4-5 national athletics trials in Nairobi.

"Going by my results in Addis, Doha and Hengelo, I am hoping to do well because I am currently in great shape. The toughest part will be the trials which are always so competitive. I am praying that I stay injury free ready for them and hopefully I will make it and only after that shall I think of Beijing," he said.

He attributed his great form this season to having started his season early. "I took part in the cross country season and that helped me get into good shape early in the season and it has continued since."

But Mateelong will not compete in his specialty at the forthcoming Kenya Police Championships.

"I will not compete in the steeplechase at the police championships. I will run 5,000 metres race instead because I want to build on my speed and endurance hence the longer race. I will revert to steeplechase at the trials," said Mateelong.

Mateelong, 24, began the season with victory at the national trials for the African Championships where he ran a quick 8:16.7 to lead All Africa Games champion, Willy Komen and Bernard Kipyego to the podium.

(Xinhua News Agency June 6, 2008)