Three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop has trained his sights on a fifth title at the Exxon Mobil Dream mile in Oslo, Norway, tonight.
Asbel, who has won the IAAF Daimond Trophy twice, posted a world leading time and meet record of 3:29.33 on Sunday in Birmingham after chalking up victories in Doha and the Bowerman Mile in Eugene.
He will face strong opposition from world silver medalist Elijah Manangoi (3:52.39), who finished second in Doha and third in Eugene.
Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion James Magut (4:49.83) and Andrew Rotich (4:10.14), whose father Kipkosgei Chepsiya defeated Asbel’s, father David Kebenei at the 1987 All Africa Games 1,500m final, are also in the mix.
Algeria’s Olympic champion Algerian Taoufik Makhloufi, Australia’s Ryan Gregson (3:52.24), who was third in Rome and New Zealand’s Nick Willis (3:49.83), who finished third in Birmingham, are also itching for glory.
Asbel said he is keen to stage a good show in the Scandinavian nation.
“I have quite a good number of fans whom I don’t want to disappoint. I am in good shape and hope for a good show, before I head home for the national trials at Kipchoge Stadium in Eldoret, where I hold the stadium record,” Asbel told FeverPitch at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham on Sunday.
World javelin champion Julius Yego and world 400m hurdles champion Nicholas Bett are also expected to light up the meet.
Olympic 5,000m bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa (12:49.04) leads Kenya’s onslaught and will be up against Ethiopia’s 23-year-old Muktar Edris (12:54.83), who is already faster in 5,000m than Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebreselasie when they were his age.
Longosiwa targets his maiden win this season, having finished third in Shanghai and fourth at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, where Edris chalked up victories.
Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (12:51.34), the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, 2013 world bronze medalist Isaiah Kiplangat, Vincent Rono (13:16.42) and Cornelius Kangogo (13:10.80) will also line-up in the 5,000m race.
Ethiopians Yomif Kejelcha (12:53.98), the 2013 World Youth Champion, Hagos Gebrhiwet (12:47.53), who bagged 5,000m silver behind Britain’s four-time world champion Mo Farah in Moscow and Abadi Embaye (13:02.49), are also in contention.
World 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvin Kiyeng lines up in the water and barriers race, hoping to improve on her Shanghai showing, where she won in a personal best time of 9:07.42. Kiyeng, an alumnae of athletics-rich Sing’ore Girls in Keiyo North, missed the Kenyan record of 9:07.14 held by Milcah Chemos by milliseconds in the Eugene championships.
Olympics bronze medalist Sofia Assefa (9:09.00) leads Ethiopia’s squad that has Etenesh Diro Neda (9:14.07).
Former World Junior champion Caroline Tuigong will be hoping to start her season on a positive note after failing to impress in Shanghai.
Former world silver medalist Lydia Chepkirui (9:12.55), Cherotich Fancy (9:28.04) and Sweden’s Fougberg Charlotta (9:23.96) are also line up.
Faith Chepng’etich will compete in the mile contest.
