Kieng Samorn, Cambodia’s second most prolific long-distance runner behind marathon man Hem Bunting, has been sent by the Khmer Amateur Athletics Federation to the Turkish city of Istanbul to participate at 2012 World Indoor Championships in Athletics, which starts tomorrow and runs until Sunday.

Before his departure yesterday morning, Samorn told the Post: “I have qualified for the national team since 2007, when I ran in 5km, 21km, and 42km [marathon] events.

But now I have changed to compete over 800m, 1,500m and 21km.”

National athletics coach Phay Sok said Samorn’s continued progress has justified his dispatch to Turkey.

“At the 16th International Angkor Wat Half Marathon last year, Samorn finished first among Cambodian runners and grabbed seventh among other foreign runners with a time of 1:17:58,” added the coach.