Kenyan stars gear up for epic battle in Oregon

Timothy Cheruiyot competes in men’s 1,500m final at the 2020 Olympics. [AP]

A dogfight awaits as top guns battle for 1,500m honours when the 18th World Athletics Championships start in Eugene, Oregon in USA on Friday, next week.

And the clash between Ethiopia’s two-time world indoor champion Samuel Tefera, Olympic bronze medallist Josh Kerr of UK and Norway's Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen will no doubt set tongues wagging.

Abel Kipsang, fourth at the Tokyo Olympic Games, in 1500m will be a sight to behold.

With the Wanda Diamond League mid-way, the duel will surely confirm the 1500m king in 2022.

But Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2019 winner at the World Championships in Doha and second at the national trials, will marshal forces with Kipsang, who holds the fastest time (3:31.01) set at the Kip Keino Classic meet in Nairobi this season.

Kipsang drew first blood on the 2022 Diamond League circuit, turning back to win the season opener in Doha before winning the second leg inside Alexander Stadium in Birmingham and national trials at Kasarani Stadium.

Charles Simotwo, another member of Tokyo Olympic Games squad, and 2016 world under 20 champion Kumari Taki complete the four-team 1500m Kenyan squad.

Ingebrigtsen made his 2022 Diamond League debut at the Prefontaine Classic meet in Eugene, USA, on May 28.

Cheruiyot looks ready to stop Norwegian aggression in Oregon.

"The trials race was quite good. Well planned. I tested my body response and I since I have a wild card, I decided to save energy. I am now ready for the battle. I have competed against most of the competitors we will face in Oregon," said Cheruiyot.

Not bad for a man who rose from a rural boy at Kibungot Village in Bomet to world’s 1500m stardom –what with the instant promotions at the Kenya Prisons Service.

Last year, President Uhuru Kenyatta promoted Cheruiyot from the rank of Chief Inspector of Prisons to a gazetted officer –Senior Superintendent of Prisons (SSP), a rank where a tailored crown (not metallic) begins in police and prisons.

He is perhaps the youngest officer in Kenya to hold such a high profile rank. It remains to be seen if Kenya Prisons will promote him to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Prisons, should he defend the World Championships title in Oregon.

Kipsang has been in tip-top form and itching for the title.

"I love front running. I am mentally ready for the competition. We will embrace team work with Cheruiyot. We must defend this title. We just need to plan well," said Kipsang.

Tefera has been in top form. In 2018, he won the world indoor 1500m title in Birmingham and set a world indoor 1500m record of 3:31.04 in 2019.

Later that year at the Diamond League meeting in London, Tefera won the Emsley Carr mile in a world-leading 3:49.45.

In March, Tefera defended his world indoor 1500m title in Belgrade, beating Olympic champion and world indoor record-holder Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the process. Kenya’s Charles Simotwo, who has a personal best of 3:30.30, is also in the mix.Samuel Abate and Taddese Lemi (3:37.06 season best), who replaced Melese Nberet, are other athletes in the Ethiopian 1500m lineup.

Uganda will parade Ronald Musagala, a member of the 2013 World Championships squad. Former Olympic champion Matthew Centrowitz Junior is missing out of the USA squad.