Kenya's Managoi eyes world title

After a slip-up during the Olympic Games, world 1,500m silver medalist Elijah Manangoi is on redemption path to a world record next season.

The 23-year-old caught the imagination of the world as the heir apparent to Kenya's Asbel Kiprop, when he came second in the finals at the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing last year. However, he allowed his ego to ride ahead of him and was rudely reminded of his position at the Rio Olympics, where he failed to make it through the semi-finals.

But having learnt his lesson, Manangoi has his task cut out ahead of next season -- to set a new world record obliterating Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj's current world 1500m record of 3:26.00, which he set in 1998.

"I am serious on my plans. I have had everything planned by my coach and a world records is one of the targets I have to attain," he told Xinhua on Wednesday.

Manangoi has 3:29.67 personal best time while only three men have been successful to run under the 3:27 minute mark. They are Kiprop, El Guerrouj and Bernard Lagat.

The Kenyan targets to shutter the world record in one of the Diamond League meetings starting in May ahead of the World Championships in London, where he hopes to improve his silver medal to gold. Of course that is if he will navigate through the explosive Kenya national trials to make the team.

"I don' t have a specific city in mind where I will set the record but it will come when all conditions are favorable," he added.

"Monaco has been a good hunting ground and so is Stockholm. I will see once the calendar is announced."

Manangoi blamed injury for his early departure from Rio Olympics and hope he will stand the test of time to compete at the 2020 Games.

--IANS

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