Nairobi – Kenya's world 800m record holder David Rudisha and Commonwealth 1500m champion Silas Kiplagat are to make their last world championships preparations when they compete in the Monaco Diamond League on July 22, officials said on Monday.
The two athletes who booked their places in the Kenya team for the August 27 to September 4 championship at the national trials last weekend, each hold some sentimental affection for the tiny Mediterranean principality.
It was in this city that Rudisha, who remains unbeaten over the two-lap race, was crowned the first male Kenyan winner of the IAAF Athlete of the Year last November, while the 21-year-old Kiplagat recorded a world-leading time of 3:29.27 in winning the Monaco 1500m on his European track debut last July.
While Kiplagat does not rule out another quickest time at the meeting, Rudisha, who has run very sparingly this season to avoid aggravating an ankle injury, said he would use the race to consolidate his position in the Diamond League standings.
“The injury is almost gone and I am hoping to stay injury-free until Daegu,” Rudisha told reporters during the trials. – Sapa-AFP