TOKYO 2020: Cheruiyot man to beat as men's 1500m action gets underway

A bad-day in office during the Athletics Kenya (AK) national trials denied world 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot a chance to fight for an Olympics gold at a time when he's the overwhelming favourite as he finished fourth in a race the top two were assured of a ticket with the third slot left for a team of selectors to decide. 

He, however, made it back to Team Kenya after second-placed Kamar Etyang was adjudged unqualified to compete as he had not complied with the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) requirements for three out-of-competition doping tests ten months before a major championship. 

Now, Kenya's hopes of reclaiming gold in the men's distance last won by Noah Ngeny in 2000 as he set the Olympics record (Asbel Kiprop was awarded the 2008 gold medal after original winner Rashid Ramzi tested positive for banned a substance) are on Cheruiyot. 

Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) Charles Simotwo who won the national trials in 3:32.76 lowered his career best to 3:30.30 in Monaco where he finished fifth.  Abel Kipsang who finished third at the trials completes the Kenyan trio at the Games.

"I am happy to be in the team. Going into the competition, there is pressure seeing as this is a chapionship and not the Diamond League races that I have been participating in. I had challenges during the national trials and I had accepted the outcome but now that situations have changed and I am in Tokyo, I feel ready," said Cheruiyot. 

All eyes are on the 25-year-old Cheruiyot, who other than his slip up at the national trials has had an impeccable career for the last two years. 

Cheruiyot was unbeaten over the distance in 10 races over two years, a streak that included the Diamond League final and World Championships in 2019 before that streak was broken at the trials held in June. He bounced back to back-to-back victories at the Oslo and Monaco Diamond Leagues. 

"My focus for now is to get through the heats and semis in to the final. After that I can plan for the final race. I am, however, careful not to put too much pressure on myself. I have already put what happened in the trials behind me and I am focused on racing. I know an Olympics medal is missing in my career but talk about medals will come after we qialify for the final. Any of us in the Kenyan team can win this race," added Cheruiyot. 

In Monaco, he set a blisteringly fast pace that went on to produce the six fastest times in the world this year, clocking a new PB (3:28.28) and the fastest time in the men's 1500m this year.

The trio faces stiff competition from among others Olympics defending champion Matthew Centrowitz and Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen who has been in good form since 2018. The 20-year old won the 1500m/5000m double at the 2018 European Championships at just 17 and last year, before his 20th birthday, broke the European record in the event, clocking 3:28.68 to become the eighth-fastest man of all time.

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Centrowitz, who controlled the race in Rio is back to defend his title. Only one man has ever managed a successful Olympic title defence over the distance, Sebastian Coe in 1980 and 1984. If the pace is fast, speed won't be on his side either as he hasn't ran under 3:32 since 2018. 

Another runner capable of having an impact in the "fast and furious" narrative is Stewart McSweyn, the 26-year-old Australian who lowered the Oceania record with his 3:29:51 run in Monaco. He's raced well all season, winning the mile at the Bislett Games in Oslo with 3:48.37, also an area record, and finishing second at the Doha Diamond League.

Others to consider in the medal hunt include Samuel Tefera, the world indoor champion, who leads the Ethiopian squad. The 21-year-old will arrive in Tokyo in the shape of his life after a 3:30.71 lifetime best in Monaco. He'll be joined by trials winner Teddese Lemi, who has improved to 3:31.90 this season.

Pole Marcin Lewandowski, who manages to snatch medals at most major championships, most recently at the 2019 World Championships where he fought his way to bronze. The 34-year-old doesn't have an Olympic medal to his credit, but a 3:30.42 national record, also in Monaco, suggests he's in form to finally collect one.

Meanwhile, Josh Kerr, a 2019 World Championships finalist, is the fastest Briton this year with 3:31.55. He'll team with Jake Wightman, who joined the sub-3:30 club in Monaco last year, clocking 3:29.47.

Additional information by World Athletics