NAIROBI, July 12 (Xinhua) -- World and Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto has ruled out a world record attempt at the Rabat Diamond League meeting in Morocco on Friday.
Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday, before jetting out, Kipruto said he is focused on running a fast time, but will be keen to gauge his body before going for the world record at the Monaco leg of the Diamond League in two weeks' time.
"I feel strong and am going to run with the hope of testing my body under different conditions. My plan to run a world record will be in Monaco, not in Rabat," Kipruto said.
The 23-year-old is leading a horde of Kenyan stars to the Moroccan capital for the Meeting Mohammed VI D'Athletisme on Friday before turning their focus to the Africa Championships, which will be held in Asaba, Nigeria from Aug 1-5.
On the women's front, world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will return to action to face Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba in what will be the highlight of the meeting. Both will compete with Sifan Hassan, whose mission will certainly be to spice up the race and make it exceptional.
Kipruto provided one of the highlights of 2016, winning the steeplechase in a meeting record time of 8:02:77. The Olympic champion from Kenya will be back in Rabat to try to improve on that mark. Kipruto with a personal best time of 8:00:12, still has a long way to go.
The world record is held by Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen (Stephen Cherono) at 7:53:63 set in 2004 in Brussels.
Kenya's Brimin Kipruto came close to breaking the record in Monaco in 2015, clocking a time of 7:53:64 but no other athlete has ever come close. "The record has stayed for a long time and it's time for someone brave to lower it," said Kipruto.
Moroccan star Soufiane El Bakkali delighted the home crowd in Rabat last year as he barreled to victory in the men's steeplechase.
Just weeks later, he would go on to win the silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in London. This year, El Bakkali hopes to emulate his home soil heroics in Rabat, and kick start his road to the final in the process.
A win would propel the young Moroccan into the top eight, raising his chances of a place in the final and a shot at the Diamond Trophy. Enditem
