NAIROBI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- World 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot believes the return to action of his training mate Elijah Manangoi will propel the two to post fast times on the track even as they plot to attempt breaking the world record in 2020.

Cheruiyot had until 2019 been playing second fiddle to his training mate and friend Manangoi. However, a hamstring injury ruled out Manangoi from defending his title in Doha, setting the stage for Cheruiyot to climb to the top and reign supreme on the global stage.

Now Cheruiyot is dreaming of shuttering the 3:26.00 world record set by legendary Moroccan middle-distance runner Hicham El Guerrouj, which has been unchallenged for the last two decades.

"The victory I earned in the Doha World Championships last October meant a lot to me because it (gold) was something I had yearned for the past four years. I know the record has been there for long and Kenya athletes have been top of the leaderboard in fast time in the race so, it would be nice if we can work together to attempt breaking it. The focus should be on how to train and for sure the record. What I know is it will go down at some time," Cheruiyot said on Tuesday in Kericho.

But of greater concern to Cheruiyot going into the new season in 2020 will be being able to prove to the world that he is a man of his own and can emerge from the shadows of his mentor and training mate Manangoi to stage his own contest and win. That will be at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

"Of course every athlete has his focus on the Olympic Games. A win at this stage will go a long way in cementing my name among Kenya's best athletes. For now, my focus is to make the team for the Olympic Games and try to win a medal," Cheruiyot added.

The two train under coach Bernard Ouma together with prodigy George Manangoi, a younger brother to Elijah, the Commonwealth Games champion. The trio hopes to make the final Kenya team to Tokyo and help the country secure the gold medal home. Enditem

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