By Gilbert Wandera
Silas Kiplangat, the current 1,500m World silver medalist,?says fans should expect a ‘battle of men’ when a field of?athletes line up during the Olympic trials on Saturday.
The men’s 1,500m has one of the strongest fields in the two days trials with three of the athletes boasting of impressive times this year.
Apart from Kiplangat, there is World champion Asbel Kiprop and Nixon Cheseba who won the Diamond League series in 2011.
Kiplagat said his biggest challenge is Kiprop whom he beat in Doha in May during a Diamond League meet.
“Overall, there is a very strong field lined-up for the race. My biggest opponent remains Kiprop whom we have always exchanged top positions with. But I cannot forget to mention Nixon Cheseba who recently won in Hengelo,”
“Let local fans expect a battle of men because everybody is tough and can be picked to represent the country in the London Olympics,” he said.
Kiplagat said he is motivated to be in the Kenyan team for the Olympic Games and will use tomorrow’s semi-finals as training for the final day.
“On Thursday, we run the semi-finals and, for me, this is a great training opportunity to be fit for the final on Saturday which I expect to be very tough,” he added.
Kiplangat’s boast of a personal best time of 3:29.6, while Kiprop and Chepseba boast of equally impressive times of 3:29.8 and 3:29.9.
Janeth Jepkosgei, the world 800m silver medalist, can expect a tough time when she attempts to qualify from this group when she makes her appearance in 1,500m.
Jepkosgei, who will also run in the 800m trials, can expect stiff opposition from Hellen Obiri, who was runners-up in Hengelo in May and 1,500m Olympic champion Nancy Jebet Lagat.
