By Robin Toskin:
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Tuesday, May 14th 2019 at 00:05 GMT +3 | AthleticsElijah Manangoi, the World 1,500m champion, has challenged his training partner Timothy Cheruiyot to snatch his gold medal in Doha, Qatar.
Manangoi was responding to Cheruiyot’s wish that this would be the season to upgrade his silver medals at 2017 World Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games and Africa Championships.
The two protagonists are Rongai Athletics Club’s prized assets with Cheruiyot perennially playing second fiddle to Manangoi at major championships.
“Manangoi is a fantastic athlete, who has achieved a lot in 1,500m, but hey I think it is my time too to serve the same dose on him,” Cheruiyot said with a smile with the World Champion lurking within an earshot after training at African Nazarene University yesterday.
“I have recovered fully from a hamstring injury and looking forward to a good season,” said the soft-spoken Cheruiyot, who despite winning the 1,500m IAAF Diamond League overall title in 2017 and 2018 is yet to inflict defeat on Manangoi at a major championship.
And Manangoi, affectionately referred to as ‘the Lion’ by his contemporaries, has welcomed the challenge.
“He works really hard in training and now he has laid bare his vision and dream. If that is his wish let him come and take the gold from me in Doha, I am also ready for the challenge,” Manangoi said.
The IAAF World Athletics Championship is not due until September 27, but the Diamond League provides the perfect arena for the two stars to seize each other’s readiness.
Manangoi posted a World Lead winning 1,500m specialty in 3:32.21 in Doha on May 3 while Cheruiyot (3:32.47) returned second for a Season Best as Kenyans occupied the first seven slots in Qatar.
“We are heading to Stockholm (Sweden) on May 30 for yet another round of action. It will be another stage to gauge my progress this season. I really feel good,” Managoi said.
Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj holds the stadium’s record (3:29.30) set in March 1997.
Rongai Athletics Club coach Bernard Ouma is happy with the evolving competition within the club but has cooled any thoughts of a World Record, which Manangoi also agreed is a subject of discussion.
with his tactician.
“On a good day, Elijah and Timothy can scorch the competition thanks to their approach to training backed by serious pacesetters,” Ouma said.
Timothy Sein has emerged as a powerful pacesetter with Manangoi praising him for setting the stage for his world lead in Doha on May 3.
