byLarry Eder
Asbel Kiprop proves he is in great shape for a world record attempt in Monaco, by Justin Lagat
He is commonly referred to as “the 1500m man”, but Asbel Kiprop,
during the Areva Diamond League meeting in Paris, proved that he is
more than that. He definitely is the best middle distance runner in
the world currently. He now has two world leading times in both the
800m and the 1500m events.
To many, the contenders in the 800m race were probably Nijel Amos of
Botswana, who, hitherto, had the world leading time after beating
David Rudisha and Mohammed Aman at the Prefontaine Classic meeting
in Eugene and Kenya’s Robert Biwott, who had won the event at the
Shanghai Diamond league. Even during the first lap of the race, Asbel
Kiprop still did not appear to be a strong contender. He was in
position eight at the bell, and when I try to search my memory for any
athlete who has ever moved from that position at the bell in an 800m
event to win it, I can’t seem to find any.
From the start of the race up to the lane barriers, Asbel Kiprop was
trailing the rest of the field, exactly the opposite of how world top
800m athletes usually start their races. David Rudisha, Wilfred Bungei
and Wilson Kipketer, among other great runners in this event would
usually move to the front at the start, or stay just within a striking
distance from the leaders. Kiprop had to overtake each and every
athlete, at times having to inevitably use the outer lane, all the way
up to the front.
He reached the lead with about 200m to go and
Nijel Amos reacted and tried to prevent him from maintaining the lead. The
two fought shoulder to shoulder till the remaining 50m when Amos gave
in. Kiprop won the race in 1:43.34, the world leading time this year.
Asbel was here to horn his speed ahead of the Monaco Diamond League
next week where he has a mission. He wants to break Hijam El
Guerrouj’s world record of 3:26.00 in the 1500m event. He came close
to breaking it when one second and 72 microseconds prevented him from
doing so last year. This time round, he is intent and focused. Last
year before his historic race where he ran 3:27.72, his world record
attempt was just but a rumor. This time round, he has come out clear
that he will be going for the record.
“This is something I have had in mind since last year,” Asbel Kiprop,
24, had told reporters after the world relay championships in Bahamas.
“That is why I decided to ignore all other competitions to work out my
strength and technique for Monaco.”
The 1500m event in Monaco will definitely be the most interesting one
to watch. Many athletes usually record their personal best times at
this meeting.
Not only will the interest be in the 1500m, multiple
world and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi will run against the great
up-start, Jairus Birech, in the 3000m steeplechase event. Ezekiel
Kemboi had earlier on in the year also spoken to Kenya’s local media
about his aspirations to break the steeplechase world record this year
too.
If he is serious about it, then there is certainly no better
place to do it than in Monaco. Jairus Birech too, with his current
form, will ensure that this will also be exhilarating watch.
The Herculis meeting this year for sure is an event that every track
fan should plan in advance never to miss.
