NAIROBI, May 29 (Xinhua) -- Former Olympic steeplechase bronze medalist Paul Kipsiele Koech says he is under no pressure to run a world record time on his return at the Rome Diamond League meeting on Thursday.
The 36-year-old Kenyan threatened the steeplechase world record in Rome back in 2012 when he clocked a jaw dropping time of 7:54.31, which was just a second slower than the world record. Speaking on Monday evening in Nairobi, Kipsiele said he will be content with victory in the Italian capital as the Diamond League makes its fourth stop this season.
"What I want most is to win the race again. The world record may not be viable for me to break. I have the potential and despite my vast age, I believe I can still run a fast time," Kipsiele said.
Back in 2012, there was little doubt that Kipsiele was the premier
steeplechaser in the world, but the Kenyan has often struggled more than most when running at altitude in Nairobi, which cost him Olympic berths in both 2008 and 2012 when he lost out at the Kenyan trials.
"I don't believe I will get another chance to compete for Kenya in steeplechase. I have started focusing on road races, but I want to run a fast time in Rome," he added.
In the six years since the 2012 IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome, no one has come within four seconds of the 7:54.31 he clocked for the 3000m steeplechase that night. Of course, what Kipsiele was truly after was the world record of 7:53.63, set by Saif Saeed Shaheen in 2004.
From there, he put on an exhibition, leaving multiple time world and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi far behind. He covered his final lap over the barriers in 62 seconds as almost 60,000 fans urged him home. In the end he fell short, but his 7:54.31 moved him to third on the world all-time list and secured his place among the greats.
