Ishmael Kipkurui/ HANDOUT Fresh from sealing their spots in Kenya’s 10,000m squad to next month's World Championships in Tokyo, Edwin Kurgat and Ishmael Kipkurui are set for a crucial form-check in the men’s 5,000m race at the Lausanne Diamond League on August 20.
The pair earned their tickets to Tokyo during the July 5 Prefontaine Classic, which doubled as Kenyan trials.
Kurgat clocked 26:46.35 to finish fourth, the top Kenyan on the day, with Kipkurui right behind him in 26:47.72. Benson Kiplangat completed the Tokyo-bound trio in 26:50.00.
For Kurgat, Lausanne offers a chance to sharpen his finishing speed after a tosy-turvy season.
"I have been doing a lot of strength work, and it's just been building up now. It's time for me to focus on my speed work," Kurgat said after the Prefontaine Classic.
Kurgat is yet to hit the podium this season.
He opened his season on May 16 at the Doha Diamond League, clocking 13:19.32 for a fifth-place finish in the 5,000m.
Reynold Cheruiyot (13:16.40), Dominic Lobaku of Switzerland (13:17.70) and Bahraini Birhanu Balew (13:17.70) claimed the podium.
At the Philadelphia Grand Slam, Kurgat clocked 8:04.18 for a sixth-place finish in the 3,000m.
Kipkurui, meanwhile, has enjoyed a strong campaign.
On June 11, he stormed to a 29:07.79 finish to clinch the NCAA 10,000m title ahead of Eritrea's Habtom Samuel (29:08.73) and Ernest Cheruiyot (29:10.37).
Adding more Kenyan firepower to the field is Jacob Krop, the 2023 world bronze medallist, and Denis Kipkoech.
The Kenyan arsenal faces a stern test from double Olympic bronze medallist Grant Fisher of the USA.
Fisher is fresh from a dominant display at the American championships, where he finished second in the 10,000m (29:02.37) and 5,000m (13:26.75) to book his slots in Team USA for the Tokyo championships.
Adding more depth to the field is a strong Ethiopian contingent led by 2016 Olympic 5,000m bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet and Telahun Bekele.
Birhanu, Lobalu and American Graham Blanks complete a strong men's field.
