体坛英语新闻：Kenya's champion Kiprop targets record run

NAIROBI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan world champion, Asbel Kiprop, is aiming at running under 3:27 in the men 1500m and inch closer to Moroccan legend Hicham El Guerrouj's world record of 3: 26 this season.

The two-time world titleholder, who held to his crown in Moscow last year, is also targeting a place in the IAAF Continental Cup that will be held in Morocco in September by excelling at the African Championships set for the same country in August.

Kiprop was speaking Friday when he marked his first outing of the season on track with a 1:45.3 in the 800m in the Athletics Kenya (AK) Relay Series where he ran the opening leg of the 4X800m event for his Eldoret team.

"Today was my first time on the track this year and I wanted to feel the spikes and the tartan to see how I would react. I want to run at the Continental Cup and I have to go to the African Championships to qualify."

"I'm also interested in competing at the World Relay Championships in Bahamas but in the 4X800m since it will give me the speed to tackle 1500m," Kiprop added after his Eldoret team mates finished third in 7:09.6.

"We do not have major championships this year and my aim is to run under my personal best and do a 3:26. I will not consider Commonwealth Games since I want to give young runners a chance to go to Scotland and feel how it is to win a medal for Kenya," said the 3:27.72 lifetime best athlete in 1500m underscored.

Kiprop ran his career best at the IAAF Diamond League in Monaco last July having set his previous standard of 3:28.88 at the same event in 2012.

"This season, I have prepared for the season without injury and I feel in good shape. It's only maintaining and training harder to achieve my goals this year," the Daegu and Moscow Worlds gold winner said.

The African Senior championships will run in Morocco from Aug. 10 to 14 with the Continental Cup in Marrakech Sept. 13 and 14.