ASBEL IS THE MAN TO BEAT IN ELDORET: Manangoi leads charge to stop Kiprop in 1,500m showdown

Kiprop is congratulated by Managoi after the men's 1500 metres final at the 15th IAAF Championships in Beijing

A bruising battle awaits in the men and women 1,500m races at the Olympic national trials at Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, next week.

Kenya’s 1,500m stars have posted stellar performances since the IAAF Diamond League series began last month.

Three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop will anchor the 1,500m line-up alongside world silver medalist Elijah Manangoi, 2011 world silver medalist Silas Kiplagat and Commonwealth Games champion James Magut.

There are huge expectations from Asbel, the man of the moment, who has won four Diamond League meetings — Doha, Eugene, Birmingham and Oslo — to collect 40 points for the 2016 IAAF Diamond League Trophy.

The lanky Asbel set world leading time of 3:32.15 in Doha and another world lead in the metric mile in Oslo (3:51.48) and meet record in Birmingham (3:29.33).

But Kiprop has lofty dreams this season: “I want to qualify first for the Olympics. The world record, which will push me near Moroccan legend Hicham El Gorouj comes later.

“I have competed at the Kipchoge Keino Stadium before and even set the stadium record, so I know how to handle the race.”

Manangoi won in Rome in 3:33.96, finished second in Doha (3:33.86), third in Bowerman mile in Eugene (3:52.39) behind Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider (3:51.96) and wound up second in Oslo Dream Mile (3:52.04) behind Asbel.

Manangoi’s meteoric rise from a 400m runner in 2013 to 11th place in 1,500m at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to winning silver in Beijing last year cannot be underrated as he can pull a surprise in the trials.

Silas Kiplagat on the other hand finished third in Doha (3:33.86), was runners-up in Rabat (3:33.68) in a season best and seventh in Birmingham (3:35.52).

Magut, Bethwel Birgen and Collins Cheboi are also among the 18 athletes with 3:36.20 standard qualification time Athletics Kenya entered for the selections.

Among women, world 1,500m silver medalist Faith Chepng’etich stands out as a hot favourite.