By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's world silver medalist in the 1,500m event, Timothy Cheruiyot is hopeful he will secure a major championship win this season after posting the seventh fastest time ever in the distance in Monaco.
Cheruiyot, who has returned to a training camp in Nairobi to prepare for the Africa Championships, was credited with yet another world leading time of 3:28:41.
"I am forever thankful to the experience and good performance in Monaco. The seventh fastest time in history is no mean achievement, only a few have got that time," he said Monday in Nairobi.
Indeed only three legendary runners in their prime time have posted faster times. They are world record holder Hicham El Gourauj of Morocco (3:26:00), United States' Bernard Lagat (3:26:23) and Asbel Kiprop (3:26:69).
Cheruiyot has posted four of the 10 fastest times this year. The Kenyan has also won five of the Diamond Leagues races he has entered.
However he tasted one defeat this season at the Commonwealth Games when he lost out to compatriot Elijah Manangoi.
"I believe there will be some relief for me at the Africa Championships. I have had good results in the Diamond League circuit and now I hope to translate that to the championships," he said.
To do that, Cheruiyot will still have to go past his training mate and world champion Manangoi.
Meanwhile, world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri says she attained her goal of running a better time over the mile distance despite not winning the race in London over the weekend.
Obiri, who will be running in her maiden Africa Championships, believes she will be in her best form by August after she encountered problems with her speed and endurance owing to an iron deficiency in her body at the start of the season.
