[ad_1]
“Good morning ladies and gentlemen. This is the flight deck, your captain, Julian Mogg, speaking.
“We will soon begin our descent to London Stanstead Airport. Our estimated arrival time is 7:00 am local time. I hope you enjoyed your flight.
“On behalf of Oryx Jet and the entire crew on board, we wish to welcome you to London and wish you all the best in the London Marathon. May the best athlete win. Thank you ladies and gentlemen.”
These are most likely the words from the cockpit of the executive travel Oryx Jet chartered Boeing 737-500 upon arrival at London’s Stanstead Airport on Monday.
The special plane, hired by the organizers of the London Marathon to carry the elite athletes of Kenya and Ethiopia, took off from Eldoret at 8.15 pm on Sunday night after the crew spent the night in the “City of the Champions “.
With Captain Julian Mogg at the helm, after choosing the Kenyan contingent for Sunday’s London Marathon, led by defending champions and world record holders Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, the executive jet flew to Addis Ababa to select the contingent. Ethiopian led by multiple countries and Olympic distance running champion Kenenisa Bekele.
It would then make a refueling stop in Athens, Greece, before making the final approach to London Stanstead Airport.
With personalized menus, 56 business seats in its quiet cabin, 37,000-foot cruising altitude, 880-kilometer-per-hour cruising speed, and custom-made glassware from China, the flight offered athletes the most comfortable ride they could have wished for for on Sunday. race that will be televised live and exclusively on NTV.
Pacemakers and elite athletes with their technical support team were on the 56-seat plane that landed at Eldoret International Airport on Saturday to allow the six-person crew to rest for a day at the Boma Inn Hotel in Eldoret.
Speaking exclusively to Nation Sport, Captain Mogg said he was delighted to bring the track and field champions to London, and said he had only seen them on television.
“I am happy that I will be able to see them during the flight. This (London Marathon) is a highly anticipated race around the world and if I am free that day, I will be happy to see them compete.” I’m also happy to be able to meet Kipchoge and Bekele, “Mogg said.
At Eldoret Airport, to say goodbye, the athletes were the President of Athletics of Kenya, Jack Tuwei, the Chief Administrative Secretary for Sports, Hassan Noor Hassan, and the President of Central Rift Athletics of Kenya, Abraham Mutai, among others.
Tuwei wished the athletes the best in the race knowing that they have prepared well in advance of the tough task ahead.
“It is an honor for you as athletes that the race organizers send you a plane and we know that as a federation you have trained well despite the challenge of the coronavirus. We wish you the best and we know that you will defend your titles,” Tuwei said . .
Hassan said the government will always support athletes at various events and lending a hand to those heading to the London Marathon is a way of appreciating the athletes who have always made the country proud.
“We would have been there to support him as a government, but due to logistical problems we were unable to travel. We want to wish him well and we know that he will defend his titles,” Hassan said.
The athletes, hailing from different corners of the athletic-rich region, entered the airport one by one, some showing emotion on their faces longing for the journey ahead.
For some, it has been more than eight months training at home due to the coronavirus pandemic that affected the world of sport, while others travel to Nairobi and the South Rift region to be able to board the chartered plane.
The Kenyan team consists of world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge, Amsterdam marathon champion Vincent Kipchumba and Rotterdam marathon champion Marius Kipserem.
Others on the team include 2016 Mumbai Marathon champion Gideon Kipketer and late-list entrant Benson Kipruto.
Sign up for free AllAfrica newsletters
Get the latest African news straight to your inbox
The women’s contingent team consists of defending champion Brigid Kosgei, 2018 winner Vivian Cheruiyot, world marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich, Frankfurt marathon champion Valary Jemeli and newcomer Edith Chelimo.
Chepng’etich, who trains in Ngong, Kajiado County, said she was ready for the coming battle as she contemplated a successful career.
“It will be a tough battle but I have had good training and I am looking forward to a good race despite the tough challenge from the Ethiopian ladies,” she said.
Last year, Kipchoge took the victory in a record two hours, two minutes and 37 seconds, finishing ahead of Ethiopians Mosinet Geremew (2:02:55) and Mule Wasihun 2:03:16 who were in second and third position respectively. .
In the women’s category, Kosgei won in 2:18:20 finishing ahead of compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot who recorded 2:20:14 while Ethiopia’s Roza Dereje sealed the podium in 2:20:51.
