Isaiah Kiplang'at faces Mo Farah in London two-day DL meet

Caleb Ndiku Mwangangi (241) and Isaiah Kiplang’at lead the pack in the men 5000m final during the National Olympics Trials on June 30 at Kipchoge Stadium, Eldoret.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

It will be another moment of riveting action as Kenyans compete at the Muller Anniversary Games, the 10th stop of the IAAF Diamond League meeting, at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London today.

Isaiah ‘chairman’ Kiplang’at, the 2013 world bronze medallist, will have a re-match with Britain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah in 5,000m in the two-day showpiece, having met at the London Olympic Games showdown at the same stadium.

It will also be reminiscent of the Moscow 2013 Worlds, where Farah and Kiplang’at fiercely battled in the last two laps that left the huge crowd inside Luzhiki Stadium in awe.

But Kiplang’at, who is in the Olympic team alongside world silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi and Joseph Yosei, takes on Farah as they put final touches on their preparations for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, next month.

“I have prepared well. I know how to handle him. My focus here is all about the Olympics. We need to reverse the trend and bring back the 5,000m glory. I have not competed against Mo Farah since Moscow.

“I will race in Paris and Zurich after the Olympics,” said Kiplang’at, a police officer based in Bungoma County.

John Ngugi won Kenya’s last Olympic 5,000m gold medal in 1988 and it remains unknown whether the three will weather the storm when called upon on the night of August 20 when action gets underway in Brazil.

Kiplang’at (12:48.64) will lead 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Edwin Soi (12:51.3), veteran Paul Kipsiele Koech (13:05.18) and Bethwel Birgen (13:04.66) against Farah tomorrow.

Others are America’s Bernard Lagat and Africa 10,000m champion Stephen Mokaka of South Africa.

Ferguson Rotich, fourth at the Beijing Worlds, will test French man Bosse Pierre-Ambroise and Botswana’s Olympic silver medallist in 800m today.

Mary Kuria (4:03.13) is Kenya’s sole competitor in 1,500m race.

Winnie Chebet, member of Olympics team, takes on homegirls Bell Alexandra and Lynsey Sharp, the Commonwealth Games silver medallist, in 800m as she gears up for Olympics.

Silas Kiplagat, the 2011 world 1,500m silver medallist, will anchor the Emsely Carr Mile men’s contest alongside Timothy Cheruiyot (3:55.80), Vincent Kibet (3:54.75), Elijah Kiptoo (4:00.24) and James Magut (3:49.43), the Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion in today’s duel.

They will be up against homeboys Lee Emmanuel (3:54.75), Thomas Lancashire (3:53.39) and Leonel Manzano (3:50.64).

Cheruiyot, a prisons warden, said: “I did not make the Olympic team. But I have started preparing for 2017 London World Athletics Championships. I will do my best to ensure I make team that’s coming here next year for the championships.”

Tunisia’s Olympic 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Habiba Ghribi will square it out with world junior champions Purity Cherotich (2010) and Caroline Tuikong.

 

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