World Indoor tour part of Manangoi's preps for Budapest

World Athletics Championships 1500m 2017 champion Elijah Manangoi is plotting for his comeback, as he looks to return to the global stage for next year's World Championships set for Budapest. 

As part of his ongoing preparations, the 29-year old took part in this weekend's national trials for the World Cross Country Championships set for Bathurst in February. 

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Despite not placing high up enough to make the team set to represent the country in the competition in Australia, Manangoi is impressed with his progress and is confident of making it to Budapest, Hungary. 

"I am happy with how I have built my endurance as I make my comeback. I competed in the national cross country trials not to hit a certain number in terms of speed but to test my speed ahead of next year. 

My preparations for Budapest are already underway and I am looking forward to run some good races before then," said Manang'oi adding that being injury-free is an added advantage to his 2023 ambitions. 

The 2015 Beijing world championships silver medalist and a 2018 commonwealth Games gold medalist says his first stop globally in 2023 will be at the World Athletics Indoor tours where more than 50 races are on offer across the different levels. 

From seven meetings in 2020, the tour has grown to offer 24 in 2021, 33 in 2022 and now 54 in 2023.

In its eighth season, the World Tour will feature seven Gold level meetings, kicking off in Karlsruhe on 27 January 2023 and culminating with the Final in Birmingham on 25 February 2023. The season also features Silver, Bronze and Challenger meetings.

"I will decide with my coach which events I will be competing in, depending on how my training is going. It will be a good place to test myself before the outdoor season begins," Manangoi revealed. 

Manangoi was suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) in July 2020, the ban then backdated to 2019 after missing three consecutive out of competition tests.

He competed for the first time ever after serving his ban during the Kenya Police Cross Country Championship in January 2022 where he ran the mixed relay.