Kiprop dreams to hold both world and Olympic gold in 1,500m race

World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop of Kenya says it will be an honor for him to hold both the world and Olympic title in 2016.

Kiprop, who lost out to compatriot Julius Yego, the world javelin champion, in Kenya's sports awards in Nairobi on Friday, said his rival did well and it was right to honor him.

"But it has aroused the hunger in me to win the award and I will use the Olympics to convince the selectors to pick me for the 2016 awards," he said Saturday in Nairobi.

Kiprop, 27, missed the world record in the four lap race by a fraction of second in Monaco and said he is concerned with winning gold in Rio than breaking the world record.

"It is an Olympic year and I have to be fresh to challenge for the main title. But I will see which races to compete in during the Diamond League and hopeful test my body. Going for the world record is not on my agenda at the moment," he said.

Kiprop was among a battery of athletes that competed in the Kenya Police Cross Country Championships in Nairobi on Saturday. He said he is keen to use the event to test his endurance.

"I have no intentions of competing at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon in March. My interest is just to help me gauge my preparedness as I wait for the start of the track season," he added.

Kiprop won gold in Beijing Olympics, but had to wait for almost a year for him to be crowned, after winner Rasgid Ramzi of Bahrain was found to have doped.

"I want to win the gold in the real competition, not in some functions," he said.

Kiprop was injured as he competed in the finals at the London Olympics in 2012 and was last in the race many expected him to win.

But he hopes to atone for that missed chance in Rio as he enjoys his best form so far in the career. Endi