Cheruiyot ready to defend 1500m world title in Oregon

Reigning 1500m World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot is confident of retaining his title at this year’s edition in Oregon. The 26-year-old, who won the final in Doha three years ago with a dominant display, is hoping for a repeat performance in his specialty. “There is pressure with being the defending champion. I must stay focused and […]

Reigning 1500m World Champion Timothy Cheruiyot is confident of retaining his title at this year’s edition in Oregon.

The 26-year-old, who won the final in Doha three years ago with a dominant display, is hoping for a repeat performance in his specialty.

“There is pressure with being the defending champion. I must stay focused and concentrate on the competition. My goal is to go on and retain my title and make sure I show the world that I’m still a top athlete,” Cheruiyot told supersport.com

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Cheruiyot further confirmed that he has fully recovered from a nagging injury which has dogged him for almost a year. 

“I have had a hamstring problem since the Olympics last year, but it’s gotten much better. I would say that I am currently at 90 per cent and ready to compete in Oregon. I am feeling good. I have prepared well, and I thank God that I am back to full health.” 

Kenya has won the last five gold medals in the distance from 2011 and will have four athletes in the distance in Oregon with Abel Kipsang, former world junior champion Kumari Taki and Charles Simotwo joining Cheruiyot all hoping to maintain the East African nation’s stranglehold in the race. 

“There will be four of us in the 1500m so we will work together as a team and ensure that we all get through to the final and after that, we shall now plan for the final.” 

Cheruiyot’s main challenge will be from Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who stunned him to take the Olympics gold at the Tokyo 2020 Summer Games last year. 

“Ingebrigtsen has been very strong so far this season and is a tough challenger. But I wasn’t fully fit for a while. Now that I’m okay, we will have a good fight.”