Three-time world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop is seeking to seal the Diamond League trophy in Brussels today.
Kiprop, who missed out on Olympic glory last month, finishing sixth in Rio has 31 points and will be up against world silver medallist Elijah Manangoi, who has 28 points.
Kiprop faces a stellar cast and must win the race to bag the coveted trophy. He is up against a record nine Kenyans led by Ronald Kwemoi, who finished last in Rio, Bethwell Birgen, Robert Biwott, Collins Cheboi, Timothy Cheruiyot, Vincent Kibet, Elijah Kiptoo, Hillary Ngetich, and Andrew Kiptoo. Morocco Abdelaati Iguider and Norway’s Filip Ingebrigsten will equally pose a challenge.
In the men’s 800m Ferguson Rotich has a six-point lead over Frenchman Pierre Ambroise. The Kenyan has 33 points while Ambroise on 27. Rotich, who won the national trials but finished fifth at the Olympics, will be seeking to salvage his season.
Rotich will be up against former World junior champion Alfred Kipketer and Jonathan Kitili as well as Olympic silver medallist Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria and bronze medallist Clayton Murphy of the United States.
Olympic 5,000 silver medallist Helen Obiri faces a re-match of the Rio Olympic final with bronze medalist and Olympic 10,000m champion and world record holder Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia.
Ayana has 30 points with Obiri a distant second on 16 points. Obiri will try to emulate her performances in the Olympics, where a alongside Olympic 5,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot, they upset Ayana in the final. Obiri will have the company of Agnes Jebet, Viola Lagat and Margaret Chelimo, who is fresh from winning the 3,000 meters in Zagreb on Tuesday.
Olympics 3,000 metres champion Conseslus Kipruto is on course to regain the Diamond League trophy he won in 2013. Kipruto has 50 points with his closest rival compatriot Jairus Birech on 23 points. Kipruto has been winning his races with apparent ease this year and leads the world with his 8:00.12 personal best which he posted at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham. Slightly surprisingly, though, the 21-year-old Kenyan has yet to run under eight minutes in his career but he is still going for a full-blown world record attempt in Brussels, taking aim at the mark of 7:53.63 set by Saif Saeed Shaheen at the same meeting in 2004.
Kipruto will have good company in his quest to break the world record as it will include Olympic silver medallist Evan Jager and bronze medallist Mekhissi Benabbad of France. His manager Michel Boeteng said he stands a good chance to break the record. “If he’ll probably reach the 2000m mark in 5:16; then the world record is possible, and that’s what he’s been talking about,” added Boeteng.
Kenya is well represented by former Olympic champion Brimin Kipruto, former Olympic bronze medallist Abel Mutai, Clement Kemboi, Abraham Kibiwott, Lawrence Kipsang and Nicholas Kiptanui.