Sum, Kiprop seek Continental Cup glory

Eunice Jepkoech Sum wins the Commonwealth Games final of the women’s 800m on August 1, 2014 at Hampden Park. Sum will compete in the IAAF Continental Cup 800m final in Marrakech on September 12, 2014. PHOTO | AFP | FILE

What you need to know:

  • World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat will be seeking redemption in their respective races Friday in the Continental Cup.
  • Kisa will team up with World Indoor 3,000m champion, Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia in women’s 3,000m.
  • Africa champion and 2014 Diamond League Series 3,000m steeplechase leader Jairus Birech teams up with Ethiopian Chala Beyo Techo, who finished fourth at the Africa event.

Having tacked four major silverwares in the last one year, Eunice Sum will be yearning to wrap up her season with yet another victory when she takes to the track in the IAAF Continental Cup 800m final in Marrakech on Friday evening.

World 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop and World 5,000m bronze medallist Isaiah Kiplangat - who have blown hot and cold this season - will be seeking redemption in their respective races in the athletics World Cup.

Former World Junior cross champion Janet Kisa, who won silver medals at Africa Cross and 5,000m at Commonwealth Games, will be eying to end a dry spell with victory in women’s 3,000m race also set for Friday.

From left: Mercy Cherono (gold), Janet Kisa (silver) and Margaret Muriuki pose after the final of the women's 5000m athletics. Athletics contributed almost the entire harvest, with astounding 1-2-3 sweeps in two races. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL | AFP

After winning the World title August last year in Moscow in personal best 1:57.38, Sum claimed the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Africa Championship victories in the two-lap race in Glasgow (2:00.31) and Marrakech (1:59.45) respectively this August.

Eunice Sum (right) reacts after winning the gold medal in the women's 800 metres final during the 19th Senior Africa Championship Athletics on August 14, 2014 in Marrakech. PHOTO | FADEL SENNA |

DIAMOND LEAGUE VICTORY

A fortnight ago, Sum clinched her maiden Diamond League trophy, having launched her quest in Doha in May where she won in 1:59.33 before clocking a triumphant 1:59.49 in Rome in June.

Gold winner Eunice Sum of Kenya (centre) poses with compatriots Janeth Jepkosgei (left) and Agatha Jeruto following the women's 800m event during the 19th Senior Africa Championship Athletics on August 14, 2014 in Marrakech. PHOTO | FADEL SENNA |

She set a season’s best of 1:59.02 in Oslo in June before winning in Lausanne with an improved record of 1:58.48.

She finished second in Monaco and Birmingham in July and August respectively, and third in Zurich but the results were enough to put Sum in line for her maiden Diamond League series victory. Sum is with Ethiopian Assefa Tigst Tessema in the Africa team for the 800m race.

After failing in his world record bid in Monaco when he lost to Silas Kiplagat and losing the Africa battle to Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman, Kiprop will be seeking solace at the World Cup. Kiprop and Souleiman will lead the African onslaught in the metric mile race.

Asbel Kiprop of Kenya wins the 1500m event at the IAAF Diamond League in the Qatari capital Doha on May 9, 2014. PHOTO | KARIM JAAFAR | FILE

Kiplangat, who won silver at the Commonwealth Games and Africa Championships, will team up with Africa 10,000m champion Amlosom Tesfalset Nguse from Eritrea in the 5,000m fray where they will meet Olympics and World champion Mo Farah from Britain.

Kisa will team up with World Indoor 3,000m champion, Genzebe Dibaba from Ethiopia in women’s 3,000m.

On Saturday, Commonwealth Games and Africa 5,000m champion Caleb Mwangangi will face off with defending champion Kenyan born Bernard Lagat from the USA in men’s 3,000m race.

Mwangangi will team up with Eritrean Abarar Osman Adem who won 5,000m bronze at Africa Championships.

Kenya's Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku celebrates winning the final of the men's 5000m athletics event at Hampden Park during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, on July 27, 2014. PHOTO | BEN STANSALL

Africa 400m bronze medallist Boniface Mucheru, who finished fifth in 400m hurdles during the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games, will feature in Saturday’s 4x400m race. He will team up with Isaac Makwala from Botswana, South Africa’s Wayde van Niekerk and Saviour Kombe from Zambia while Larbi Bourrada is a reserve.

Makwala won the Africa title in Marrakech in a Championship Record time of 44.23, beating van Niekerk and Mucheru to silver and bronze in 45.00 and 45.07 respectively.

Julius Bungei (left) and Bonface Mucheru compete in a past race. PHOTO | FILE | NATION

Makwala would then anchor his team to Africa 4x400m victory where Mucheru’s Kenyan team settled for bronze with Nigeria going for silver.

Africa champion and 2014 Diamond League Series 3,000m steeplechase leader Jairus Birech teams up with Ethiopian Chala Beyo Techo, who finished fourth at the Africa event.

Commonwealth Games and Africa champion Julius Yego will spearhead Africa’s assault in javelin throw alongside former Africa champion Ihab Abdelrahman from Egypt.

Commonwealth Games and Africa 10,000m champion Joyce Chepkirui teams up with Africa 5,000m champion Almaz Ayana from Ethiopia in women’s 5,000.

World 1,500m bronze medallist Hellen Obiri, who won the Africa title, has Ethiopian Dawit Seyaum in the metric mile race.