Kenya's Tirop eyes Obiri scalp in Diamond league opener in Doha

By John Kwoba

NAIROBI, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Former World Cross Country champion Agnes Tirop of Kenya has thrown down the gauntlet ahead of the Diamond League opener in Doha as she eyes fast time over the 3,000m race.

Tirop, who has battled knee and ankle injury since her win in Nanjing, China in 2015, said here Wednesday that she has returned to form and is ready to take the battle to her rivals in Doha, which will be opening round of the 14-tier Diamond League meeting, the premier track and field competition.

"The injuries are behind me now. I proved that in the Africa cross country and now after missing the commonwealth Games, my focus is on winning the Diamond trophy. That however, will not make me run tactical as I want fast times this season," she said.

A battery of Kenyan athletes will be jetting out to Qatar's capital for the one day competition expectant of victory.

Alongside Tirop, there is World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion Elijah Manangoi, Olympic champion David Rudisha all going to the middle east for the competition.

In the women3,000m race, Tirop will get intense challenge from 2015 Beijing 3000m steeplechase World champion Hyvin Kiyeng (9:07.51), former World U-20 champion Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui (8:51.28), World Cross Country Championships Bronze medallist Lillian Kasait (8:32.73) and Norah Jeruto (9:24.02).

"It was a great relief to get gold in Commonwealth Games. I have had 10 days rest since returning from Australia and have been training hard this past one week. It's a challenge to stay at the top as the defending champion and I know everyone will be trying to beat me but it's not going too easy for them," Obiri told Xinhua in Nairobi.

"The season proper starts now and I intend to use Doha performance as a gauge to see where I need to improve on so that I can be in a similar shape that I was in last year. I have been doing a lot of loading but I need to check on my speed," she added.

Obiri however, ruled out going for the world record in the 5,000m distance despite topping the four fastest times last season.

Her main target is to qualify for the Africa Championships in Asaba, Nigeria and secure a slot in the continent's team to the World Cup in Czech Republic in September

In the men's 800m race, World 1,500m champion Manangoi will test his speed against compatriot Emmanuel Kipkurui and two-time World silver medalist Adam Kszczot of Poland.

"The plan is to run fast time and seek to attempt a world record latter in the season," said Manangoi, who will have younger brother George Manangoi running in the 1,500m race. Enditem