Ailing Jairus Birech opts out of London Grand Prix

Jairus Birech of Kenya celebrates his victory in the men's 3000m Steeplechase final of the Gyulai Istvan Memorial - Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix at the athletic center of Szekesfehervar, Hungary on July 7, 2015 . PHOTO | ATTILA KISBENEDEK |

What you need to know:

  • Birech said he is down with a bout of Malaria but hopes to recover on time for the World Championships trials due July 31 to August 1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
  • The two-lap race is not part of the 2015 Diamond League Series.

Diamond League Series 3,000m steeplechase leader Jairus Birech has withdrawn from the London Grand Prix due Friday and Saturday at the London Olympic Stadium.

Birech said he is down with a bout of malaria but hopes to recover on time for the World Championships trials due July 31 to August 1 at the Nyayo National Stadium.

“I need your prayers since I am down with malaria and that is why I am not competing in London. I wish all Kenyan steeplechasers the best in the race,” said Birech.

Birech is well on course to retain his Diamond League Series title after winning in Shanghai, Oslo and Paris. He won in the French capital city on July 4 in a world lead and meet record time of 7 minutes 58.83 seconds.

KIPRUTO OUT TO SHINE

The Commonwealth Games silver medallist has been tipped to make the Kenyan team for the World Championships due August 22 to 30 in Beijing, China but in his absence, the focus will be on World silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto, who claimed third place in Paris and Eugene respectively and second in Oslo.

Other Kenyans in the race that will go down on Saturday are the three-time Diamond League Series winner Paul Kipsiele Koech, the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist Abel Mutai, Hillary Yego, Bernard Ng’ang’a and Clement Kemboi.

Olympic and world champion Ezekiel Kemboi will not compete in London, having opted to concentrate his energies for the trials after winning in Eugene only to finish outside the top five places in Oslo and Paris.

Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha will be hoping to draw inspiration from his Olympics exploits as he returns to the arena where he set world record of 1: 40.91 during the 2012 Olympics.

Rudisha, the winner of New York leg, will face Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos, who beat him at last year’s Commonwealth Games and recently during the Lausanne Diamond League.

However, the two-lap race is not part of the 2015 Diamond League Series.

Undefeated 800m Series leader Eunice Sum, who set the Stade de France alight with a world lead of 1:56.99 at the Paris meet, goes for her fourth win of the season on Saturday.

Sum, who is the Commonwealth, Africa and World Cup champion, faces familiar foes in Molly Ludlow and Chanelle Price from the USA. Also in the race is Hassan Sifan, who won the 1,500m races in Birmingham and Lausanne.