NAIROBI, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya will make an attempt on the world record in Monaco in July.
The Commonwealth Games champion believes his career will be incomplete without the world record to his name as he wants to go an extra mile than his mentor Ezekiel Kemboi.
Speaking in Nairobi on Saturday, Kipruto, who also won the world title in London last year, says he has set the plan in motion and tested his fitness in Rome where he won in a season best time of 8:08:40 to beat Eugene, USA winner Benjamin Kibet (8:10.01) while Doha winner Chala Beyo (8:11.22) was third.
“The world record has been in my mind. I know I can run faster and I now have four weeks to focus on training before attempting the world record in the Monaco Diamond,” said Kipruto, who boasts a personal best of 8:00.12 from Birmingham in 2016. “I will put all of my effort in there. I'm ready for it.”
Kipruto said he started his season early and has been struggling to return to his best form.
He started off with win in Gold Coast after returning from injury and believes he was not ready for action in Shanghai where he failed to finish his 5,000m.
Kipruto also believes Kenya has a big reservoir of athletes who will be able to challenge for medals at the Africa Championships in Asaba, Nigeria.
Already 25 countries have confirmed participation in the premier track and field competition in the continent, in which the top two will secure direct qualification to the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, the Czech Republic in September.
Athletics giants South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya are all presenting large squads as they move to consolidate their dominant status on the continent.
South Africa are the defending champions – having won the last two editions hosted in Marrakech, Morocco; and Durban, South Africa.
