The competition, titled "Orenburg Mile," took place on January 24 in Orenburg.
On the distance of 2 miles (3218 meters), Keneshbekov finished second, only behind Vladimir Nikitin, who set a new Russian record with a time of 8 minutes 29.74 seconds.
The athlete from Kyrgyzstan completed the distance in 8 minutes 33.94 seconds, which also became a new record for his country.
In an interview with Sport AKIpress, Keneshbekov shared his impressions of the competition.
- How did you end up at the start in Russia?
- As usual, I have a manager who organized my participation. I was invited to help Vladimir Nikitin, who planned to set a Russian record. I also needed a start before the Asian Championship, so I agreed.
- How did the competition go? How many athletes participated?
- Since the goal was to set a Russian record, there were not many participants — only 5-6 people. I ran first, helping Nikitin. With 400 meters to go, he took the lead and broke the record. I finished second, but I also set a record for Kyrgyzstan.
- Were there any prizes for participation?
- For second place, I received 50,000 rubles, and an additional 25,000 rubles for the new national record.
- You have already gained a good reputation in Russia.
- Yes, now I am invited to many competitions. I received another invitation, but the dates coincide with the Asian Indoor Championship.
