Kenya's Kipruto eyes steeplechase record in 2018 campaign

NAIROBI, Jan. 24 (Xinhua) -- With no intention to compete at the World Indoor Championships, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya said Wednesday that he would try to break the World record this season.

Though he did not name the venue of his attempt, Kipruto said he will target the world record of 7:53.63 in 2018.

The record set by Saif Saaeed Shaheen, a fellow Kenyan who switched allegiance to Qatar in 2003, achieved at the 2004 Golden League meet in Brussels, will not be the only incentive for the World and Olympic champion.

The Kenyan also plans to compete at the Commonwealth Games in April and the African Championships in August.

"I had a good season in 2017 even though my attempt to go for the world record failed again after the injury I sustained during the World Championship trials in Nairobi," Kupruto said.

"I still won my first World title even though I had the pain after I twisted my ankle at the trials. The record has stayed for long and I think it time for someone to lower it," he added.

Only in 2011 did that record come under serious attack. Kenya's Brimin Kipruto narrowly missed the record in Monte Carlo by just 0.01 seconds. Kipruto who produced the finest performance in Monaco clocked the second fastest ever Steeplechase time of 7:53.64.

After his miss in 2011, Kipruto remarked, "when I saw the clock I was just so grateful. Next time at the World Championships I will try and break the world record."

It was never meant to be. Now the younger Kipruto has the chance to move up and cement his place in history of steeplechase runners by breaking the 14-year record. But only time will tell. Enditem