NAIROBI, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's former world junior steeplechase champion Caroline Tuigong of Kenya hopes to redeem her career as she launches her season hunt at the Shanghai Diamond League meet on Saturday.
The former world youth champion has had problems with her fitness and endured several poor seasons and false starts to her career.
But she believes to have made a turn on her injuries and seeks a successful performance in Shanghai over the water and hurdle race.
The 28-year-old expects stiff challenge from compatriots Beatrice Chepkoech (8:59.84) and Norah Jeruto (9:03.70), who holds the fastest time in the field that has attracted eight Kenyans out of the 17 elites at the starting lineup.
"Injuries are part of the athletes' life. However, they have shaped my performances in the last few seasons and I have had to deal with it. But I have had a good training session over three months and am ready to mark my turf starting with Shanghai," she said on Friday.
In the 1,500m race, world silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot is the favorite in a race that will be without world champion Elijah Manangoi.
He needs to watch out for world indoor champion Samuel Tefera and Moroccan veteran Abdelaati Iguider. The trio are targeting a world lead having skipped the first round of the 14-tier Diamond League series in Doha a week ago.
Justus Soget of Kenya, who placed third in the 1,500m in Doha will once again be gunning for a top three spot in the metric mile.
His countryman Cheruiyot, the world and Commonwealth silver medallist, boasts outstanding credentials as does Ethiopia's rising teenage talent Samuel Tefera, who stormed to 1,500m gold at the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham.
"It is an open race and anyone may take the win. But what's important is to run fast time because many are yet to peak after starting training late," said Soget.
The world indoor bronze medalist Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco and the 34-year-old Ethiopian Aman Wote, who finished one place behind in Birmingham, will also compete.
Elsewhere, world champion Muktar Edris opens his track season against a field including teammates Dejen Gebremeskel and Hagos Gebrhiwet and Olympic silver medalist Paul Chelimo.
World and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto makes his international debut at the distance.
