Olympic and world 1,500m champion Faith Chepngetich is among the top names to watch today during the second and last day of the World Championships trials at Nyayo Stadium.
Chepngetich who has not raced much this season with her only major race being the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon which she won in May, is the standout name in the 1,500m start list, but says she was not under pressure ahead of today’s race.
“You know I have already qualified for the World Championships as the defending champion, so I am just happy to run in front of my fans at home.
“The race today will also help me gauge how my body is considering that my last major race was in Oregon in May,” Chepngetich said yesterday.
However, she is set to face a stiff challenge from Continental Cup champion Winny Chebet, who has been consistent in the Diamond League circuit.
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In the men race, world silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot will be the man to beat considering that his training mate and world champion Elijah Manangoi will not be lining up at Nyayo today.
Cheruiyot who is fresh from winning the Diamond League trophy over the distance is expected to easily win the race, but he will of course not take things easy considering what happened yesterday in the 5,000m race where some top names including Edward Zakayo and Paul Tanui fell by the wayside.
Another world champion Hellen Obiri is also named in the 5,000m start list alongside Agnes Tirop who beat her over 10,000m during the national championships which were also used as trials for the World Championships over the distance.
Both Obiri and Tirop already made the team to the World Championships after the 1-2 finish over the 25 lap race.
Former world 800m champion Eunice Sum and 3,000m steeplechase African Games champion Benjamin Kigen will also be hoping for a good show and make the team to Doha.
Sum will take on World Under 18 champion Jackline Wambui, who beat her at the national championships and Emily Tuwei, the winner of semi-final one yesterday.
Tuwei won the race in 2:04.72 with Sum coming in second in 2:04.96 while Prisons’ Wambui was third in 2:04.99.
The other semi was won by Eglay Nalyanya in 2:03.59. Jarinter Mawia was second with Naomi Korir finishing third to book her place in today’s final.
Men’s 3,000m steeplechase also promises some fireworks with Kigen, who finished fourth in the Diamond League finals in Brussels last week taking on Abraham Kibiwott, the Commonwealth Games bronze medallist and defending champion Conseslus Kipruto who has a wildcard by virtue of being a world champion.
Other men to watch will be World Under-20 silver medalist Leonard Bett and former world junior champion Amos Kirui.
In the field events, former world Javelin champion Julius Yego who won the African Games gold in Rabat Morocco will renew his rivalry with Alexander Kiprotich while Mathew Sawe will still be the man to watch in the high jump.
