Kenya's Kipruto confident to excel in steeplechase at World C'ships

Experience and records are his fortress, but Beijing Olympics 3,000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto is aware they will serve no purpose in his hunt for repeat success on return to China for the World Championships.

Kipruto, 30, is one of the most experienced athletes that will be in Beijing, but he is challenged by the quick rise of his juniors, especially compatriots Jairus Birech, the Commonwealth Games champion and world silver medalist Conseslus Kipruto.

"I have been around in this sport for 14 years now. Since my high school days, I have been to the World Youth, World Junior and Africa Games. But the biggest stage was the Olympics and the World Championships. On both I have won gold and nothing changed," Kipruto told Xinhua Tuesday in Nairobi.

"But that was in my youth days, as I age, I want to exit with a bang and that is why I will be going for gold in Beijing irrespective of who I will run against," he added.

Seven years ago, Kipruto went to Beijing hoping to retain his Olympic silver medal, which he had won in Athens in 2004.

But fate was on his side. In the final lap at the Bird's Nest, when he signaled then champion Ezekiel Kemboi to move forward, he did not respond and Kipruto took it upon himself to safeguard Kenya's most treasured medal as he sprinted to win the race.

And as he returns to Beijing, sevens years on, Kiprtuto still has the hunger to deliver the medal to Kenya.

"I feel motivated going back to Beijing and though I have been around for long, so has been my colleague and world champion Kemboi," he said.

"The allure of winning gold for Kenya and competing for my country will always inspire me and I want to show the world that I still have my speed and running tactics in place."

Kipruto holds a personal best of 7:53.64, which he set in Monaco back in 2011, which is the second fastest time ever run, and still is the African record.

His record was only 0.01 of a second behind the world record of former county mate Saif Saaeed Shaheen (7:53.63) now running for Qatar.

"I was close but that was then. Now it is about winning and not records. There are so many people entered in this race capable of winning and I must be at my best form to be able to challenge for the medals," he added.

Kipruto has been to four world championships winning gold in Osaka (2007), silver in Daegu 2011 and bronze at the Helsinki 2005.

He was a distant seventh at the Berlin World Championships. He has also been to three Olympic Games - Athens (2004) won a silver behind Kemboi, won gold in Beijing 2008 in a race Kemboi finished seventh and was fifth at the London Games in 2012.

It was a rich history and a good collection by all standards for all the medals that were available in a span of 11 years.

But a tendon injury and a recurring ankle problem took the breath out of Kipruto as he was unable to sparkle ahead of the Moscow World Championships. But he has returned to his best form and wants medals in Beijing.

"I know there are younger athletes emerging and we have to respect them and learn to accept they might be faster than us. But it will be a struggle. Jairus Birech and Conceslus Kipruto are good and so is Kemboi, but I will not let it go without a fight," he said.

Kipruto noted that winning a slot in the Kenya team at the explosive trials was harder than competing at the World Championships.

"However, it does not mean that now that I have the qualification and ticket to the World Championships, I will take my foot off the accelerator. It is business as usual and may the best athlete win," he said.

He also predicted a 1-2-3-4 sweep for Kenya despite strong challenge from Ethiopian athletes and France.

"I do not know who I will run against, but the Kenya team is the strongest and bar injury, a clean sweep is inevitable," he said. Endi