Being at Kenya’s Olympic trials felt like being in London for the Olympics. The athletes I got to see up close are the very same who will show the world how to run, hog the podium and with medals dangling on their necks, make sure the Kenyan anthem is played over and over again. These are Kenya’s greatest exports.

Big kudos to Athletics Kenya who didn’t charge a cent to anyone coming to watch our heroes, and for their organisational excellence that showed in the races starting on time and officials handing printed results to members of the press shortly after each race. My man of the day was Kibunja, a patriotic Kenyan who run alongside the 5,000m runners to show his support. He was lapped several times but received some of the loudest cheers when he crossed the finish line.

Many thanks to Kiania who told me about the trials and to Fady who lent me his Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8.