Youngster Cheruiyot fires warning shots to senior athletes after successful transition

Reynold Cheruiyot reacts after trouncing bigwigs in Kip Keino Classic 1500m @Eric Barasa

ATHLETICS Youngster Cheruiyot fires warning shots to senior athletes after successful transition

Abigael Wafula 07:10 - 19.05.2023

Cheruiyot, 18, shocked the senior athletes when he took top honours after clocking a new Personal Best time of 3:32.01 over the 1500m race.

Reigning World Under-20 1500m champion Reynold Cheruiyot has fired warning shots at the big boys after his dominant display at the just-concluded Kip Keino Classic that was staged at the Moi International Sports Center in Kasarani.

Cheruiyot, 18, shocked the senior athletes when he took top honours after clocking a new Personal Best time of 3:32.01 over the 1500m race. He edged out defending champion Abel Kipsang who left the stadium very disappointed as he had not achieved his target-defending his title.

Kipsang clocked 3:32.70 to settle for second place as Vincent Keter sealed the podium in 3:36.92.

“The senior athletes should know that I’m slowly rising through the ranks. This is my first time competing in the senior category and I’m happy I have graduated in a fantastic way and I thank God,” Cheruiyot said.

Before the Kip Keino Classic, the youngster was fresh-from winning the 1500m race at the Africa U18/20 Championships staged in Ndola, Zambia.

In February, he had also outshined the Ethiopians to place second behind compatriot Ishmael Kipkurui at the World Cross-country Championships in Bathurst, Australia.

He credited his brilliant form to investing more time into training and working on his speed mostly.

“There is no other secret to my success…I always work hard. I mostly run the sprints to help me in improving my speed,” he said.

He revealed that his next stop will be at the USTAF Los Angeles Invitational event on May 27 where he hopes to achieve a new Personal Best.

“I expect to go and set a new Personal Best in the USA,” he said.

He also advised fellow young athletes to follow the coaches’ instructions and train effectively if they have to survive in the sport.

“They need to be disciplined and work hard. They also need to watch what they consume because that will affect how they perform,” he said.

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