World champ Kipruto reignites quest for world record in Diamond League

Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-18 22:25:14|Editor: Yurou
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NAIROBI, April 18 (Xinhua) -- World and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya wants to add the world record to the Commonwealth Games title he won in Gold Coast, Australia.

Kipruto has fitted in the shoes of his mentor Ezekiel Kemboi and has now won all the major titles on offer save for the athletics World Cup.

But it is the world record that is missing from his illustrious career and he believes he can attain it this season.

The water and hurdle champion will start his Diamond League campaign in Shanghai, China on May 12 and he wants a fast time.

"I have recovered fully from the illness and ankle injury that troubled me last season and feel well ahead of the start of the Diamond League," he said Wednesday upon arrival from Gold Coast, where he won Kenya gold in the steeplechase.

The Kenyan has penciled two races to try and break the world record in Rabat (Morocco) or Monte Carlo (Monaco) races. However, he will run in the 5,000m race at the Shanghai Diamond League meet in China.

With a personal best time of 8:00.12 at Birmingham from 2016, Kipruto still has a long way to go. His best mark last year was 8:04.63 he posted in winning the Diamond Trophy in Brussels.

The world record is held by Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen (Stephen Cherono) at 7:53.63 from 2004 in Brussels.

Kenya's Brimin Kipruto came close to break the record in Monaco in 2015 clocking 7:53.64 but no other athlete has ever come close.

"The record has stayed for long and it's time someone brave went out to lower it," said Kipruto.

Kipruto starts his water and hurdle quest at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, USA on May 26 and hopes it inspire him to run fast time. He also intends to compete at the Africa Athletics Championships in Nigeria in August.

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