NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- World and Commonwealth Games 1,500m silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot of Kenya said he aims to get a fast time at the Shanghai Diamond League meeting in China on May 12.
Timothy, who had to play second fiddle to compatriot Elijah Manangoi at the Commonwealth Games earlier this month, says that after three weeks' rest, he will be back on the track in Shanghai in his first step in the road to the finals.
"I have focus on running fast times and then see what will come in at the Africa championships. I want to make it to the IAAF World Cup in Croatia," he said Thursday in Eldoret.
But that journey will start in China on May 12 and Cheruiyot is confident that he will weather the storm and stake his claim to the Diamond League trophy, which he won last year.
"Next up is the Diamond League starting with the Shanghai on May 12. It will be the beginning of my defense of the Diamond League trophy in the 1500m," he added.
Organizers of the Shanghai Diamond League have confirmed that no fewer than 14 world and Olympic champions are among the international track and field stars expected in the Chinese metropolis.
Joining Cheruiyot in Shanghai will be Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha. The world record holder (1:40.91) will hope to make it third time lucky in the men's 800m after finishing fifth on his Shanghai debut in 2016 and third last year.
The men's sprints look equally enthralling with China's Su Bingtian taking on two world champions, Justin Gatlin and Ramil Guliyev, at 100m, and Botswana's Diamond League champion Isaak Makwala facing world silver medalist Steven Gardiner in the 400m.
The 2018 Shanghai Diamond League meeting will include 16 events, eight for men and eight for women.
This will be the second stop on the IAAF's global circuit of premier one-day meetings.