Ezekiel Kemboi training in Eldoret (© Macharia)
The Olympic 3000m Steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi of Kenya says his training is focused on August's 10th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Helsinki, Finland.
Kemboi has been out of action since the Athens Olympic Games last year due to a bout of malaria. The ailment had made him miss several international races including one cross country where he would have faced the World 3000m Steeplechase champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen of Qatar, the formerly Kenyan Stephen Cherono.
Speaking after doing speed intervals on the earth track at Kipchoge Keino stadium under the direction of his coach Joseph Ngure, Kemboi said he would take part in only a few international races as part of his build up for Helsinki.
He said that he might travel to America and Australia in April for races before returning home for more training sessions.
Kemboi who had particularly memorable encounters with Shaheen in the 2003 World Championships in Paris and that summer’s World Athletics Final in Monaco is longing for the day when he will next run against Shaheen saying the spectators will be treated to a spectacular race.
'But I don't see that encounter happening before Helsinki,’ confirmed Kemboi.
David Macharia (Daily Nation) for the IAAF
