Phanuel Kipkogsei at a previous race/ HANDOUT
World Under-20 1,500m record holder Phanuel Kipkosgei believes he is gradually rediscovering his best form after overcoming an injury that sidelined him for the opening half of the 2026 season.
The youngster's optimism follows a commanding performance on Tuesday evening at the Hungarian Athletics Grand Prix, where he surged to victory in the men's 1,500m, stopping the clock at 3:31.09.
Compatriot Danson Kiplangat settled for second in 3:31.10, while Portugal's Jose Pinto completed the podium in 3:31.10.
After his triumph, Kipkosgei expressed his delight at the performance, revealing that he is steadily working his way back after a lengthy spell on the sidelines.
"I thank God for this performance. I had been away from competition for a long time because of an injury," he said.
"I suffered a stress fracture and spent about two months without training," he added.
The 19-year-old underlined the significance of the victory, saying it was proof that he is steadily finding his rhythm again. "That's why I'm especially grateful to God for today's result."
Kipkosgei further noted that the injury ruled him out for most of the first half of the 2026 campaign. "At the beginning of the season, I wasn't even able to compete because of the injury. Coming back like this means a lot to me."
His only other outing of the season before the Hungarian meet came on June 20 during the Kenyan Commonwealth Games Trials at Nyayo National Stadium.
There, Kipkosgei missed out on both the podium and a Team Kenya ticket to Glasgow after finishing sixth in 3:34.85.
Former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot claimed victory in 3:32.28 ahead of Reynold Cheruiyot, who crossed the line in 3:32.35, while Brian Komen completed the top three in 3:32.60.
Although his 2026 season has been disrupted by injury, the gifted middle-distance prospect enjoyed a breakthrough campaign in 2025.
He opened the year with a second-place finish in the 2km race at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour in 6:02 before placing fourth in the mile road race at the Adidas Adizero Road to Records in 3:56.08.
Kipkosgei then announced himself on the international stage by winning the 4th Lucca International Meeting in 3:27.72 before producing a historic run at the Paris Diamond League, where he clocked 3:27.72 to finish second and shatter the World Under-20 1,500m record.
He carried that momentum into the rest of the season, securing back-to-back victories at the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting in 3:29.05 and the London Diamond League in 3:28.82.
At the Diamond League Final in Zurich, he finished third in 3:30.02 behind Dutchman Niels Laros, who won in 3:29.20, and compatriot Reynold Cheruiyot, who was second in 3:29.91.
The youngster then donned the Kenyan singlet at the Tokyo World Championships but endured a disappointing outing, bowing out in the heats after finishing 12th in his race with a time of 3:42.77.
