NAIROBI, May 27 (Xinhua) -- World 1,500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot is targeting a hat-trick of Diamond League trophies as he leads a galaxy of Kenyan stars to Sweden for Thursday's Stockholm Diamond League meeting.
Cheruiyot says he is hopeful of launching his season proper in the third leg of the series, after he was edged out by compatriot and world champion Elijah Manangoi in the opener in Doha, Qatar.
"It is true, my target this season is to go for the hat-trick. I want to win my third Diamond Trophy. I started the season in Doha, but did not get maximum points, but am optimistic heading to Stockholm of doing really well," said Cheruiyot on Monday.
Cheriuyot is up against Norway's European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, 18, and his two brothers, Filip and Henrik.
"I will next be on the start line in Stockholm on May 30. The event brings back great memories from 2017, and hopefully I will stake a claim to the win and put my Diamond Trophy hunt back on course," he added.
Cheruiyot started in Doha with a strong performance, posting a time of 3:32.47. However, it was not enough to stop Manangoi, the only athlete to have denied him several titles, from winning.
"It was great performance and great to be able to be back. I know it is not easy because I have to be determined even when it hurts," said Cheruiyot.
There will be another five Kenyan in the race, including world junior champion George Manangoi, Timothy Sein, Charles Simotwo, Cornelius Tuwei and Bethwell Birgen.
In the women's 5,000m race, Olympic silver medalist Hellen Obiri will be the athlete to beat.
The Kenyan has not lost on any flat track and road races she has contested in the past year. Earlier this year she won The Great Manchester Run 10km to add to her World Cross Country gold and win at the Doha Diamond League.
Obiri's main rival will be Agnes Tirop, the world 10,000m bronze medalist. Tirop, who won gold at the 2015 World Cross Country Championships, will be pushing all the way after she shook off injuries that slowed her in the 2018 season.
Also in the race will be Lillian Kasait, Margaret Chelimo, Caroline Chepkoech, Gloriah Kite, Mary Kuria and Loice Chemnung.
Other top-ranked athletes heading to Sweden include Ramil Guliyev (200m), Sam Kendricks (pole vault), Luvo Manyonga (long jump), Fedrick Dacres (discus), Laura Muir (1500m), Mariya Lasitskene (high jump) and Sandra Perkovic (discus).
