Kenya's Olympic team has stepped up training with coaches racing against the clock to get runners in top shape for the Beijing Games in August.

A local daily, the Standard, reported on Wednesday that rigorous training was evident with runners required to post very quick times during their intervals and they did not disappoint.

"We are now engaging the runners in high speed over short distances and a longer recovery time. The team is in shape and we have no complaints," Peter Mathu, the assistant coach said.

"We started training at 6 a.m. with a group of middle distance runners heading for long run exercises in Ngong and we brought the rest here (Nyayo Stadium)," he added.

Head coach, Julius Kirwa, said his team was discussing with the National Olympic Committee to explore the possibility of some athletes departing on August 5, six days before they are scheduled to leave (August 11).

"We want the 10,000m and 1,500m runners to get used to the conditions there," Kirwa said. The athletics program begins on August 15.

Fourteen Paralympians trained together with the national team in Nairobi camp as that squad also stepped up it's training for the Paralympics Games that will follow the main action in Beijing.

Coach Milare said that Adimo was expected in on Friday and his team will depart for Beijing on August 27. "We will move to residential training at Kasarani later in the week. The team is okay and focused on winning," Milare said.

World record holder, Wanyoike, said that they were seeking to better their performance at last year's All Africa Games where the team won five gold medals.

(Xinhua News Agency July 30, 2008)