Jacob Krop, the World 5,000m silver medallist, has reflected on his most gratifying season as an athlete.

Krop, a former student at Chewoyet National School in West Pokot County has vowed to bring home the elusive gold medal in the 5,000m race at next year’s World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

Singling out Nicholas Kimeli, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, whom he has teamed up with in the last two editions of World Championships, Krop said Kenyan has the brightest young crop of athletes who can challenge anybody and are capable of becoming world champions.

“I think it is only a matter of time before the World title comes to Kenya. It is moving closer and closer,” Krop said.

Since the inception of the games, Kenya has managed to win seven gold medals with the first medal won by Yobes Ondiek in 1991 in Tokyo, Japan.

The last gold medal was won by Benjamin Limo in 2005 in Helsinki, Finland.

“If all goes to plan, I think Hungary is the time Kenya has been waiting for, glory is moving closer and closer,” added Krop who clocked 13:09.98 to settle for silver in the men’s 5000m World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA in July.

Oregon was the second time the 21-year-old was making an appearance at the elite competition. His other moment came three years ago when as a junior, he made it to the finals of the Doha, Qatar 2019 Championships.

Krop who was making his second stab at the world title became the fourth Kenyan athlete to win a silver medal in 5000m at the World Championships.

Thirst for gold

His heroics were however not enough to end Kenya’s thirst for a gold medal stretching to 17 years now.

“I am young but when talking about athletics, I am mature with a lot of experience. I can say this has been my most fulfilling year as an athlete because of what I have been able to achieve.

“ Deep down I know next year will play a key role as we build up towards Paris Olympics in 2024,” Krop said.

He won silver at the 2019 Africa Youth Championships in Abidjan, Ivory Coast and later defied the odds to make the cut in team Kenya for the World Championships in the same year.

Just last month, he set world-leading marks at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Brussels.

Krop chopped more than a second off his PB to win in 12:45.71, elevating him to sixth on the world all-time list.

His former coach Edward Moti who doubles up as a Physics and Mathematics teacher at the Chewoyet school continues to heap praise on the youngster.

“We are very impressed with the progress he is making. He has a lot of potential and for sure if he continues this way he is destined for greatness. I feel he has not reached where he is destined to reach,” Moti said.