Kiprop eyes World 1,500m Record in Monaco

The reigning World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop will be targeting to break the world record of three minutes 26.00 seconds during the Monaco Diamond League on July 18, this year.

The 24-year-old Kiprop, who recently made his first appearance on track during the AK Relays and Sprints Series, said he intends to lower his personal best of 3:27.72 this season.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games Gold Medallist, who retained his World title last year in Moscow, said he foresees good things coming along his way this season.

Kiprop won the Monaco Diamond League in July last year with a personal best of 3:27.72, making him the fourth fastest man ever at the distance.

The lanky athlete from Kaptinga, Eldoret would one month later retain the title he won in Daegu 2011 but this time around in Moscow, gliding home in 3:36.28 to atone for the 2012 London Olympic disappointment.

WORLD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS

Kiprop is now targeting a place in Kenya’s team of 4x800m for the inaugural World Relay Championships due May 25 to 25 in Nassau, Bahamas.

“Everything is in order after I ran 1:45.3 in 800m at the Relay Series,” said Kiprop, who should open up his season on May 9 at the Doha Diamond League.

Kiprop said he also wants to compete at the Africa Senior Athletics Championships due August 10 to 14 in Marrakech, Morocco.

“My other plan is to race at the World Cup hence I must compete at the Africa event since that is where the African team will be selected,” he said, adding that he is likely to skip the Commonwealth Games planned for July 23 o August 3 in Scotland. “Commonwealth games and Africa Championships are too close.”

The World Cup is scheduled for September 13 in Marrakech.