Cheptegei goes for 5,000m world record tonight in Monaco

Kenya and Uganda renew their rivalry in two mouthwatering battles at the Monaco Grand Prix tonight.

At 9:13 pm, Joshua Cheptegei and Stephen Kissa will be the first Ugandans in action in the men's 5,000 meters.

They will be up against a strong field of ten runners amongst them Kenya's Kimeli Nicholas Kipkorir and Jacob Krop.

Podium places in this 12.5 lap race had until recently been a special preserve of Kenyan and Ethiopian runners until Cheptegei's triumphal arrival last season.

The Ugandan not only won the World Cross-country but also emerged 5,000m Diamond League overall champion.

It is therefore not a surprise that Cheptegei has even warned of a possible world record tonight.

You easily dismiss him until you remember that in February in the same city he shattered the 5km road record.

The women's 1,000 meters could be even more exciting. It has brought together the very best in the 800 and 1,500m.

World 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi silver medalist Raevyn Rogers on the US and Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon are all raring to go.

Nakaayi will not be short of teamwork as her training partner Winnie Nanyondo will also be competing in the same race.

 To give the world the very best, organisers have improved facilities.

These include a newly-laid track at the Stade Louis II.

The men's events in Monaco include 200m, 800m, 1,500m, 5,000m, 110m hurdles, 3,000m steeplechase, and pole vault, while women will compete in 100m, 400 m, 1,000m, 5,000m, triple jump and high jump.

Organisers also confirmed that top athletes including women's world record holder, triple jumper Yulimar Rojas from Venezuela, Dutch 1,500m world champion Sifan Hassan, and French hurdler Pascal Martinot-Lagarde will partake of in the events.

Today

Monaco Diamond League

7.40pm-9:47pm

9:13- Men's 5,000m

9:39- Women's 1,000m

Men's 5,000 start list

Personal best

J. Cheptegei   Uganda         12:57.41

C. Yemaneberhan (Italy)     13:07.84

M. Foppen  (Netherlands)     13:25.89

J. Gressier (France)         13:23.04

H. Suldan (Sweden)

H. Hugo (France)                   13:38.25

R, Hoornwey (Neth)              13:31.41

H. Ingerbristein (Norway)  13:15.38

S. Kissa (Uganda)                     13:10.93

J. Krop (Kenya)                       13:03.08

S. Mcsweyn (Aus)                  13:05.23

 Women's 1000m start list

S. Ennaoui (Portugal)            2:35.15

F. Kipyegon (Kenya)

C. Mageen (Ireland)              2:38.89

M. Lura (GBR)                2:33.92

H. Naakaayi(Uganda)   2:34.88

W. Nanyondo (Uganda) 2:36.13

R. Jemma (GBR)                 2:36.79

R. Rogers (USA)