Mwangangi and Yego yearning to rock Stockholm

Kenya's Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku celebrates winning the final of the men's 5000m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland on July 27, 2014. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL

What you need to know:

  • The rising star, winner of the World Indoor 3,000m gold medal, has a battle in hand not only from his fellow countrymen but also Ethiopia, USA and Uganda.
  • The 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Edwin Soi, 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa and Commonwealth games 10,000m champion Moses Kipsiro are also battling for top honours alongside World 10,000m silver medallist Galen Rupp from the USA.

Fresh from winning the Commonwealths Games and Africa titles, Kenya’s Caleb Mwangangi (5,000m) and Julius Yego (javelin) shift their focus to the Diamond League leg of Stockholm Thursday.

Mwangangi, who won in Eugene in a world lead 13:01.71 in May, has been in imperious form, claiming the Club Games title in 13:12.07 in Glasgow before going for the Africa title, clocking 13:34.27 in Marrakech.

The rising star, winner of the World Indoor 3,000m gold medal, has a battle in hand not only from his fellow countrymen but also Ethiopia, USA and Uganda.

“This is part of my build up since I am more focused on the Intercontinental Cup where I know Mo Farah and Bernard Lagat are also eying good shows,” said Mwangangi. Farah, the reigning Olympic and World champion, came back from illness to win European title two weeks ago.

While the World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat will be seeking revenge against Mwangangi, who beat him to silver both in Glasgow and Marrakech, World 5,000m silver medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet, who is also the reigning World Junior Cross champion, should introduce  a different ingredient.

BATTLING FOR TOP HONOURS

The 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medallist Edwin Soi, 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Thomas Longosiwa and Commonwealth games 10,000m champion Moses Kipsiro are also battling for top honours alongside World 10,000m silver medallist Galen Rupp from the USA.

Soi has the best time in the pack this season from his victory of 12:59.82 in Paris in July while the only other winner of a diamond league event this season is Gebrhiwet in Glasgow in July.

Yego is targeting his maiden victory in the Diamond League after posting his best ever performance in the Diamond League, finishing second in Oslo in June. Yego ploughed season’s best 84.17m to finish behind former training mate and the 2007 Osaka World Championships gold medallist, Tero Pitkämäki of Finland.

Besides Pitkämäki, Yego will once again come up against the Diamond League Series leader Ihab Abdelrahman from Egypt, whom he beat at the Africa Championships.