No indoor meet: Mwangangi back in training, focus on Beijing Worlds

2014 Sportsperson of the Year and Commonwealth 5000m champion Caleb Mwangangi (2nd left) trains with Savannah Cement Managing Director Ronald Ndegwa (left) and other staff in preparation for Beyond Zero half marathon an initiative of the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta on March.3, 2015 at the Company's headquarters in Kitengela. Savannah Cement is among the sponsors of the vent scheduled for March. 8, at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Commonwealth Games 5,000 champion Caleb Mwangangi will not compete in the IAAF World Indoor series.

Mwangangi, the 2014 Sports Person of the Year (SOYA) and the World Indoor 3,000m champion has opted not to feature in this season’s competition.

The 5,000m Commonwealth Games champion will focus on outdoor track competition and the World Championship in Beijing, China in August.

Indoor’s events already kicked-off with Britain’s double Olympics champion Mo Farah smashing the indoor world record at the Salisbury Grand Prix in Birmingham two weeks ago and setting a time of 8:03.40.

Its assumes the 31-year-old Farah opted to training in Ethiopia to avoid Kenya’s runners from studying his training techniques for the season.

“Last season it turned out to be a great year for me. I’m thankful having featured in many competitions and landed major titles,” said Mwangangi.

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“It also lead to me over-training and as such, I had to take longer to resume training this year.

“My body needed good rest before embarking on championship this year. I have no plans to run in the World Indoor this season” said Mwangangi.

The 22-year-old was speaking in Nairobi yesterday after leading Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Jonathan Ndiku and Japheth Kithii training session together with Savannah Cement staff who are preparing for the First Lady’s Half Marathon on Sunday.

The 21km race is an initiative of Kenya’s First Lady Margaret Kenyatta and it targets at sourcing for money towards the Beyond Zero campaign. The race will start and end at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.

Savannah Cement is one of the Beyond Zero’s sponsors having pumped in Sh5 million. The team will be led by their Managing Director and athletics enthusiast Ronald Ndegwa.

Mwangangi urges Kenyans to encourage the running culture and living healthy lifestyle.

Stylish Machakos based Mwangangi added; I’m feeling good and the fatigue is over, however, I’m concentrating on track competitions, I am also focusing on IAAF World Championship in Being, China.

Mwangangi is still hopeful of facing Mo Farah this year has avoided him in numerous occasions.

“I’m still looking forward of meeting Mo Farah,” he said.

However, he has a small matter of qualifying through the explosive Kenyan trials to make the trip to Beijing.