Asbel Kiprop, Ezekiel Kemboi, Vivian Cheruiyot in Doha for season opener

World champions Asbel Kiprop, Ezekiel Kemboi and Vivian Cheruiyot will be in focus as the 2016 IAAF Diamond League opens in Doha on Friday.

Kiprop, who completed a hat-trick of World Championships victories in 1,500m last year, hinted at going for the world record before the Monaco leg and Rio Olympics.

But can he do it in Doha?

"You never know and anything can happen," Kiprop said on Wednesday. "However, I’m yet to turn out in the 1,500m since last season...let me see how it goes."

"My priority this season is the Olympics as well as lowering my personal best which could be a world record. I don't need to wait until Monaco to do it if I’m on form."

Kiprop ran the third fastest time in the 1,500m race history, winning in Monaco in 3:26.69 on July 17 last year, missing Hicham El Guerrouj’s world record by 0.69 seconds.

It’s in Doha where Kiprop set a Meeting Record of 3:29.18 when he won in 2014. Kiprop will compete in three Diamond League legs in Doha, Eugene and Oslo Diamond League due May 6, May 28 and June 9 respectively before turning his focus on the Olympic Games trials.

On Friday, Kiprop, a two-time winner in Doha, will once again take on World 1,500m silver medallist and protégé Elijah Manangoi and fierce rival Silas Kiplagat. Kiprop lines up in Doha with the fastest time on the field and in top form, having already set the World Lead of 1:44.6 in 800m.

"I look forward to a good race against my good friends Manangoi and Silas," said Kiprop, the 2008 Olympic champion.

Manangoi, whose personal best is 3:29.67, won silver behind Kiprop in Beijing last year, while Kiplagat, winner in Doha in 2012 and the fifth fastest ever with a time of 3:27.64, has not missed a World Championships or Olympic final since 2011. His best accolade is a silver medal from the 2011 Worlds.

Other Kenyans in the race are Robert Biwott, who brings a 3:30.10 career best to the line, Bethwell Birgen (3:30.77) and Vincent Kibet (3:31.96).
Ethiopian Aman Wote (3:29.91), the 2014 World Indoor Championships silver medallist, will also be in the field.

KEMBOI, BIRECH CLASH

Kemboi, who won the World 3,000m steeplechase for the fourth consecutive time in Beijing last year, faces last year's Diamond League champion Jairus Birech and former Diamond League winner Paul Kipsiele Koech.

Kemboi is seeking his fourth win in Doha after previous victories in 2009, 2010 and 2014. Also is the race are World silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto and 2008 Olympic bronze medallist Brimin Kipruto.

Cheruiyot, who recaptured her world 10,000m title in Beijing last year, will battle defending champion and World 5,000m champion Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia in the women's 3,000m race.

Kenya's Eunice Sum, who won the World 800m title in Moscow in 2013 before claiming bronze last in Beijing, is the athlete to watch in the women's 800m.

Sum will face 2009 World champion Caster Semenya (South Africa), who is fresh from winning three titles at the South Africa Championships; 400m, 800m and 1,500m.