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NAIROBI, Aug. 5-- Until last year, only a few people had heard about Silas Kiplagat, the Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion. His burst of pace, especially in the final 200m has left many of his opponents rooted. And as the world prepares for the premier global track and field championship kater this month in Daegu, South Korea, many are wondering if Kenya especially Kiplagat, a warder in the Kenyan correction department, will finally be able to reclaim the glory in the four lap race. This is of course based on the quick time Kiplagat has posted this year of 3:30.47 in winning the Diamond League in Monaco last month. The time is still the world leading this season. Of course once in a while Kenya produces a 1500m runner who takes the world by storm. But it has taken eight long years to discover a natural heir apparent to the legacy Noah Ngeny left at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Ngeny left as fast as he came in part due to injury and many other athletes have emerged in his retirement trying to ascend to his throne. One such athlete was current Olympic Champion Asbel Kiprop, but even for him he has failed to consistently hold on to the number one slot. Throw in Nixon Chepseba, Caleb Mwangangi, Haron Keitany, Augustine Choge or Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, but you will not find the flair and easiness with which Ngeny triumphed and dominated the event. The emergence of Kiplagat has given the world a new imagination. He stands out as a unique athlete that Kenya has primed for better days ahead depending on how he is nurtured. | 
