Reigning World Athletics 5,000m silver medalist Jacob Krop will be making his maiden appearance of Diamond League this season at the Rome/Florence meeting this weekend in Iten.
The Friday June 2nd encounter has attracted top athletes, Krop will be battling for the 5,000m title as part of preparations for this year’s World Athletics championships in Budapest, Hungary.
The reigning 5,000m Commonwealth Games bronze medalist said that he wants to record better results before coming to the country for national championships cum trials ahead of the Budapest show.
“I have my sole purpose, going there to do my best and I hope for good results as this is part of my build up for the World championships in Budapest,” said Krop.
He said that he also wants to improve on his second finish at last year’s second finish at the world championships in Eugene, Oregon in the United States of America after clocking 13:09.24 after losing the title to Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen who won gold in 13:09.24, while Uganda’s Oscar Jacob Chelimo settled for bronze in 13:10.20.
“This will be a great opportunity to redefine myself at the championships in the race that has remained very crucial to Kenyans after missing out on winning gold for long,” added Krop, who hails from West Pokot county.
The athlete, who is training in Japan at the Global Media Online (GMO) where he works in the internet company.
“I will be back in Kenya in preparation for the national trials with hopes of making the team,” he added.
He will be facing off with compatriot and Commonwealth Games 5,000m silver medalist Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli for the title.
Last year, the duo faced off at the Birmingham Queen’s games with Kimeli winning the 5,000m silver medal in 13:08.19 as Krop was third at 13:08.48 where Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo won gold after timing 13:08.08.
Others in race will be Canadian Mohammed Ahmed, Swedish Andreas Almgren among others.
Other Kenyans in the third leg of the series are Commonwealth Games 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala, who lost his first race over the weekend at the Rabat meeting. Mary Moraa will be chasing double victory in the 800m title after edging out opponents in Rabat.