Summary
– Cheruiyot praises professionalism at Athletics Kenya championships.
– 1,500m final promises intense competition with top athletes.
– Cheruiyot, Manangoi, Kipsang among contenders.
– Kipsang aims for major title after World Indoor bronze.
– AK to select team for Africa Senior Athletics Championships.
World champion Timothy Cheruiyot has praised his compatriots in the 1,500m race for showcasing professionalism on the penultimate day of the Athletics Kenya national championships that concludes today at the Moi Stadium, Kasarani.
Just as it was during the opening day on Tuesday where most of the competitions were at the heats stage, the semis did not disappoint on Wednesday.
The men’s metric mile (1,500m) race final promises to be a scintillating competition after all favourites sailed through.
Cheruiyot comes up against his predecessor Elijah Manangoi, World Indoors bronze medallist Abel Kipsang and former World Under 20 champion George Manangoi at today’s finals.
“I have no doubt we have top athletes in 1,500m. If we can continue to push ourselves in this manner, we can achieve great things” Cheruiyot said.
“Here you cannot afford to miss any competition. I am sure you will see most of these athletes in all the trials we will have this year in Kenya,” added the Olympic silver medallist.
Kipsang Lights Up Track
Fresh from clinching bronze at the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, Serbia, Kipsang was once again the fastest from the semis just as he was during heats.
He clocked 3:37.14 and he is also waiting for the finals and other global events to come.
“I am building on what I achieved in Serbia. In a year, I want a major title which I feel will come very soon because I don’t want to slow down my momentum,” he said.
The culmination of the three-day championship will see AK pick a team for the Africa Senior Athletics Championships planned for Mauritius in June.
Timothy Cheruiyot Profile
Timothy Cheruiyot (born 20 November 1995) is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specialising in the 1500 metres. He is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the event. At the World Athletics Championships, Cheruiyot won the silver medal in 2017 in London, and a gold in 2019 in Doha.
He took the silver medal in his specialty event at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, and is also a two-time African Championship silver medallist from 2016 and 2018. Cheruiyot won the 1500 m Diamond League title on four occasions: in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.
National championships
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
| Representing Nike | |||||
| 2014 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 7th | 800 m | 1:47.32 |
| Kenyan Junior Championships | 3rd | 800 m | 1:45.92 | ||
| 2015 | Kenyan Championships | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:39.25 | |
| Kenyan World Championship Trials | 5th | 1500 m | 3:34.86 | ||
| 2016 | Kenyan Championships | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:37.04 | |
| Kenyan Olympic Trials | Eldoret | 4th | 1500 m | 3:39.30 | |
| 2017 | Kenyan Championships | Nairobi | 1st | 1500 m | 3:41.0 |
| Kenyan World Championship Trials | 2nd | 1500 m | 3:31.05 | ||
| 2018 | Kenyan Commonwealth Games Trials | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.84 | |
| Kenyan Championships | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.82 | ||
| 2019 | Kenyan Championships | 1st | 800 m | 1:43.11 | |
| Kenyan World Championship Trials | 1st | 1500 m | 3:34.91 | ||
| 2021 | Kenyan Olympic Trials | 4th | 1500m | 3:34.62 | |
| 2022 | Kenyan Championships | 6th | 1500m | 3:37.81 | |
| Kenyan Commonwealth Games / World Championships Trials | 2nd | 1500m | 3:34.59 | ||
Personal bests
- 800 metres – 1:43.11 (Nairobi 2019)
- 1500 metres – 3:28.28 (Monaco 2021)
- One mile – 3:49.64 (Eugene 2017)
- 2000 metres – 5:03.05 (Nairobi 2020)
- 5000 metres – 13:47.2 (Nairobi 2020)
