• Cheruiyot, on the comeback trail after a knee injury sidelined him, feels revitalized and ready for the challenge.
• Returning to form, Cheruiyot claimed a silver medal at the Doha Diamond League on May 10, clocking 3:32.67 behind Brian Komen (3:32.43) and ahead of Reynold Kipkorir (3:32.96).
Image: FILE
Olympic silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot will be up against Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1,500m today at the Oslo Diamond League.
This anticipated clash comes after Ingebrigtsen edged out Cheruiyot at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, clocking 3:28.32 to Cheruiyot’s 3:29.01. Britain’s Josh Kerr secured a bronze in 3:29.05.
Cheruiyot, who is on a comeback trail after a knee injury sidelined him, feels revitalised and ready for the challenge. “My confidence is now back and I am ready for any challenge,” he declared.
The injury, sustained during the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, was a major setback for Cheruiyot, resulting in a ninth-place finish in the semifinals in 3:37.40.
Kerr went on to beat Ingebrigtsen, setting a season-best of 3:29.38 with the Norwegian posting 3:29.65 for second place.
“I got a knee injury last year and it greatly affected my performance, especially during the World Championships,” he stated.
Returning to form, Cheruiyot claimed a silver medal at the Doha Diamond League on May 10, clocking 3:32.67, behind Brian Komen (3:32.43) and ahead of Reynold Kipkorir (3:32.96).
Reflecting on his performance, Cheruiyot said, “I was at 85% of my former self in Doha. It was my first race after nine months and I was glad with my performance.”
Cheruiyot's impressive resume includes a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games (3:30.21), gold at the 2019 World Championships in Doha (3:29.26), and a personal best of 3:28.28 set in Monaco in 2021.
He finished third in the men's 800m at last week's National Championships in a time of 1:45.64. Nicholas Kiplangat (1:45.46) and Alex Ngeno (1:45.01) took the top two places respectively.
He also placed fourth in the 1,500m, clocking 3:40.23 behind Boaz Kiprugut (3:39.23), Josephat Sang (3:38.74) and Brain Komen (3:37.91).
Ingebrigtsen, 23, not only boasts the Olympic title but also a gold from the 2022 European Athletics Championships (3:32.76) and a personal best of 3:27.14 set in Poland last year.
Joining Cheruiyot in Oslo is compatriot Boaz Kiprugut, the 2017 African U20 silver medallist, with a personal best of 3:35.26 set in 2021 in Praha, Czech Republic.
In the women’s 3,000m race, 2019 Africa U20 1500m silver medallist, Edinah Jebitok, will join forces with Leicester 5km Road Race silver medallist Caroline Nyaga.
Jebitok has a PB of 8:42.34 set in 2022 in Qatar whereas Nyaga’s PB is 8:31.98 set during last year’s Wanda Diamond League.
The Kenyans will be up against the Ethiopian duo of Likina Amebaw, the Monaco 5km Road Race champion and Lille 5km Road Race champion Wubrist Aschal.