Athletics: Cheruiyot leaves for US meeting after visa hitch

Kenya's Timothy Cheruiyot runs to victory in the men's 1500 metres during the IAAF Diamond League athletics 'Herculis' meeting at The Stade Louis II Stadium in Monaco on July 20, 2018. [AFP]

US embassy yesterday cleared World 1,500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot to compete at the Prefontaine Classic meeting, the seventh stop of the IAAF Diamond League series in Stanford, USA, tomorrow.

On Wednesday, Cheruiyot was asked by flight attendants to disembark from KLM plane that was headed to Amsterdam and asked to report to the American embassy.

Cheruiyot was, however, cleared yesterday and informed that there was an error in his visa. He travelled last night.

“I was shocked when the flight attendants requested me to disembark. But I am glad they have sorted it out.

"I hope to travel tonight (last evening) because I have to be at the Prefontaine race. I was just told it was an error and it has been rectified,” he said.

Cheruiyot was accompanied by his coach Bernard Ouma, who opted to remain behind with him to help sort out the issue. 

Meanwhile, World 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi and Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich will lead Kenyan charges to the meeting, named after Steve Prefontaine who died in 1978.

Manangoi, winner of the opening leg in Doha last month leads Bowerman Mile lineup that has Cheruiyot, Bethwel Birgen and pace setter Timothy Sein.

“You know we have a busy season so we are taking each event at a time. I am in good shape and expect good results,” Manangoi said.

The 25-year-old Chepng’etich, who is back after giving birth to a daughter Allyn, is expected to perform well.

Chepng’etich will be up against Moroccan Rababe Arafi, Australian Jessica Hull, USA’s Shelby Houlhan in non-Diamond League women’s 1,500m event.

Women’s 3,000m battle is the highlight of the day with Hellen Obiri leading the team. She will be up against Kenyans in Beatrice Chebet, former Africa cross country champion Caroline Chepkoech and Margaret Chelimo.

Ethiopians Genzebe Dibaba, Almaz Ayana and Letesenbet Gidey are in the mix. Dutch’s world indoor 3,000m silver medalist Sifan Hassan will spice up the lineup.

Beatrice Chepkoech, who lost to Norah Jeruto in Oslo, will need to redeem herself.