Manangoi season target is another gold at Worlds

Elijah Manangoi has said his main target for the year is to successfully defend his World 1500m title at the IAAF World Championships in Doha, Qatar later this year.

The Commonwealth champion began his season on a winning note, claiming his first victory at the opening Diamond League leg in Doha where he led a clean Kenyan sweep.

It is at the Iconic Khalifa International Stadium where the event was held and with Worlds set to be held in the same venue, Manangoi is eager to retain his title at the championship set for September 28 -October 6.

“It was a good to start with a win at the same venue where the World Championships will be held. The stadium is beautiful and I love the turnout and the support from the fans,” Manangoi posted on his twitter handle.

The 26-year-old has already bagged a bronze this year at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships where he participated in the mixed relay race.

The decorated middle-distance athlete won gold in the 2017 World Championships held in London, improving on second place finish he achieved in 2015 in the championships held in Beijing, China.

Manangoi alongside Cheruiyot have formed a formidable partnership which has proved a hard to crack with the duo now exchanging wins in virtually all the competitions they compete in.

Also joining the duo is the fast- rising George Manngoi- the younger brother of Elijah who is the World and African Under-20 champion and whom they train together at the Rongai Athletics Training Camp under the tutelage of tactician Bernard Ouma.

The 2018 season was also a successful one for the policeman who grabbed gold medals in Commonwealth Games, African Championships as well as in the World Cup.