Former Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Brimin Kipruto is one of the longest serving friend of Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge in the athletics cycle.
Kirputo, who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet County has more hopes than any other man living on earth that Kipchoge will run lower time than the prescribed 1:59 at the Saturday’s INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna, Austria.
“I have hope that Eliud will run 1:58, not the one everybody is talking about. I have been training with him all this and I know him better than anybody else,” said the former world 3,000 m steeplechase champions.
The world record holder Kipchoge will be proving his idea that no Human is limited as will try to run better time in Vienna after leaving Eldoret on Monday evening.
Kipruto, who trains alongside Kipchoge at Global Sports Communication in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County said Kipchoge welcomed him at the camp in 2004 and from that time friendship grew to a higher level.
“Our over 16 years friendship has made me know him better than anyone else in the camp. He welcomed me and from day one until now we know each other very well,” added 2010 Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist.
Before leaving for Vienna, Kipruto said they had a lengthy conversation, which he believes will work for him.
“Our discussion was surrounded with our athletics success which will be the key note when he takes on the course. I was among the last people he talked to before jetting out at Eldoret International Airport,” added Kipruto who has quit track for road races.
Kipruto has had successful track events, winning Olympic gold at the 2008 in Beijing, China after improving from silver in 2004 in Athens.
He went ahead to win gold at world championships in Osaka in 2007 followed by silver in 2011, double bronze in 2005 and 2015.