Former world cross country silver medalist Clement Lang’at hopes to use the Prefontaine Classic and Oslo Diamond League meetings to prepare for the Rio Olympic Games in August.
The Prefontaine Classic, which is the fourth leg of the IAAF Diamond League will be held on May 28 while Oslo will take place on June 9 in Norway. Lang’at said he hopes to represent the country in either in 10,000m or 5,000m depending on how his body will respond to training.
“I am confident of doing well on the track this year after moving from cross country,” said Lang’at, who is also the 2012 Africa cross country champion. Lang’at placed second last month behind world 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Conseslus Kipruto in 10,000m during the final leg of Athletics Kenya track and field meeting in Eldoret. “It was my first track race in the high altitude and I clocked 29:00 minutes. It was a good start and impressive results at the high altitude region,” added the Japan-based athlete.
He said he will take part in 10,000m during the Prefontaine meet before competing in 5,000m at the Oslo meeting and heading back home for national trials from June 29 to July 2 in Eldoret. Lang’at has personal best time of 13:15.81 in 5,000m posted in 2010 in Yokohama as well as 28:08 in 10,000m,which he ran in Taroudant in 2013. “I want to try and gain the qualifying marks for Olympic Games from the two Diamond League meetings. I am sure to build-up on my endurance and speed during the races before coming back home for team selection,” Lang’at said yesterday during his training at Chepkoilel grounds.
“I am still in consultation with my coach but if I do well in both, I will settle for one and work on it ahead of the Olympics,” he added. Lang’at believes the two events will be very competitive considering the caliber of runners the country has.