World U20 1500m champion Vincent Keter says the counsel from World Champion over the distance Timothy Cheruiyot has helped him relieve the pressure of transitioning to the senior level as plots to claim gold in the Kip Keino Classic Continental Tour this weekend.Keter, who has recently crowned the junior champion in the championships staged at Kasarani Stadium conceded that he was frightened when the idea of racing with seasoned athletes was mooted but has Cheruiyot to thank for aiding him to settle.We associate with Vincent Keter’s supreme showing in the 1500M, earning our country another Gold. Congratulations. pic.twitter.com/LdbqAzuiyd— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) August 21, 2021 The youngster confirmed that the Olympic silver medalist who is also his training mate at the Rongai Athletics Club was his role model who never tried to bequeathing him with advice on how to remain focused in his career.The 19-year conceded that victory in the junior category attracted massive focus and had to turn to his idol for advice on how to handle it ahead of his first race in the senior level on Saturday.”Graduating from the junior rank to the senior came with some pressure and fear of facing experienced athletes. I am aware that the progress at the senior level will be closely monitored but I have Cheruiyot to thank as he has helped me handle the situation and prepare for my debut well. Racing at the senior level requires a lot of tactics and discipline which he has also been advising me on,” he said.Besides striking gold for the second time on home soil, Keter revealed that he was working his socks off to meet his long term plan of qualifying to the Kenyan team that will fly the flag in the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Oregon in the United States of America.VINCENT KETER wins 1500m gold for Kenya in 3:37.25 in the World Under-20 Championships, Ethiopian Addisu takes silver as Etiang settles for bronze. pic.twitter.com/ZVdhYxfjKS— Nation Breaking News (@NationBreaking) August 21, 2021 He also said that he was looking to qualify for the 2022 Commonwealth Games set for Birmingham, England.”I am training hard so as to make the cut for the Oregon team. Qualifying for the global event is not easy as all top guns will also be in the mix and the slots are limited. I am also hoping that I will make it to the Commonwealth team,” he stated.
