Cheruiyot and Cherono for Police meeting

Former World 10,000m and 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot and World 5,000m silver medallist Mercy Cherono will highlight the Kenya Police Service Athletic Championships starting Thursday at Kasarani.

However, Kenya Police coach Isaac Kirwa disclosed that the duo who are fresh from taking part in the Prefontaine Classic last weekend in Eugene, USA, will face off in 1,500m race.

Cheruiyot finished third in women’s 5,000m, clocking 14:31.95min in the Prefontaine race that was her first international track event since making her return from maternity leave.

World Indoor 3,000m champion Genzebe Dibaba won the race in 14:19.76min, with former World Junior 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich second in 14:46.69.

Cherono, who is also the Commonwealth 5,000m champion, claimed second place in women’s 1,500m in Prefontaine in personal best 4:01.26, losing the battle to Jenny Simpson, the 2011 World champion who ran 4:00.98.

“They are basically looking for speed what with the national trials for the Word Championships beckoning next month,” said Kirwa.

While World Half marathon champion Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor who is also the World Cross-country champion has confirmed participation, Kirwa said the athlete has not disclosed which race he will compete in. “We will either tackle 5,000m or 1,500m away from his 10,000m specialty,” said Kirwa.

Kipsang competed in 10,000m race at the Prefontaine Classic, finishing third in 26:52.65 behind winner World and Olympic champion Mo Farah (26:50.97) and Kenya’s Moses Tanui (26:51.86).

However, the 2008 World Junior 5,000m silver medallist Matthew Kisorio will do battle in men’s 10,000m race that will also have national champion Jonathan Bett, former champion and two-time New York City marathon winner Geoffrey Mutai.

Three-time Diamond League Series winner Paul Kipsiele Koech will highlight men’s 3,000m steeplechase where Olympic and World champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be missing in action.

But Commonwealth 3,000m steeplechase champion Purity Kirui will be on parade to show her pedigree, what with World silver medallist Lydia Chepkurui missing action.

Chepkurui and All Africa Games champion Hyvin Kiyeng are among Police athletes attending Rome Diamond League on Thursday. Others are former national 400m champion Joyce Zakari who is out to recapture her title on return form maternity leave.

Running 400m, Zakari was in Kenya women’s team that won silver in medley race at the World Relay Championships held on May 2 to 3 in the Bahamas. Zakari is up against the likes of Jacinta Shikanda, who reached the semi-finals at last year’s Commonwealth Games.

World and Commonwealth 800m champion Eunice Sum and her mentor and 2007 World 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei have also stayed away from the championships. Also missing out is Olympic champion and world 800m record holder David Rudisha, who injured his leg while competing in 400m in Ostrava last week.