Budapest23: Reynold Cheruiyot shifts focus on worlds after PB in Silesia

World Under-20 1500m champion Reynold Cheruiyot has joined Team Kenya in camp ahead of the World Athletics Championships slated for 19 to 27 August in Budapest.

In his last race before joining camp, the teenager clocked a personal best (PB) time of 3:30.30 to finish third at the Silesia Diamond League (DL), a race won by Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen in 3:27.14 (PB) with Abel Kipsang coming home second in 3:29.11 (PB).

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“That was my last race and I am happy with the results. Running a PB right before the championship is motivation for me to get better. AS we begin preparations as Team Kenya, my target is on working on speed.

Going under 3.30 will be key in challenging for the title in Budapest. My endurance is in a good place. I felt that I had more to give in Silesia but my tactics were a bit poor. I raced from behind and tried to kick in the end but it was a bit late.

Since I am confident in my endurance, keeping with the leading pack would have been ideal as it would have given me the opportunity to challenge for a better finish in the final lap.

It was, however, a good learning experience and will keep that in mind as I prepare for the championship,” the 18-year-old who will be making his debut at the world stage as a senior athlete offered.

Kenya will be looking to reclaim the world title in the distance, having lost it to Jake Wightman who raced to a then world leading 3:29.23 to deny favorite Jakob Ingebrigtsen. Before that, Kenya had won the last five titles, three by Asbel Kiprop and one each for Elijah Manangoi and Timothy Cheruiyot.

Ingebrigtsen, a world 5000m champion from Oregon poses the greatest threat to the Kenya trio that will be chasing to reclaim Kenya’s glory in the distance. 

Reynold believes that the secret to beating the Norwegian world leader is staying with him from gun and attempting to outsprint him in the final lap.

“He (Ingebrigtsen), maintains almost the same pace from gun to tape and that points to his impressive endurance. If we can match his speed from the get go, it is possible to beat him on the home straight, just like Wightman did in Oregon last year. Keeping up with his speed will be the real challenge but we will train for it,” Reynold added.