Off the wire
• Dollar trades in upper 124 yen range in early Tokyo trading  • Uganda Cranes plan Ethiopia build-up ahead of Afcon qualifier  • Universe is slowly dying: Australian researchers  • Berlin, Monchengladbach advance in DFB Cup  • Rio 2016 road cycling test event shifted  • English Premier League standings  • Google restructures, being part of Alphabet  • English Premier League results  • Indigenous people worldwide face myriad health challenges: UN  • Rwanda president emphasises conducive business environment for investors  
You are here: 　 Home

Kenya' s Kibiwott thirsty for first medal at World Championship

Xinhua, August 11, 2015 Adjust font size:

In 2008, she was one of the rising stars in the 1,500m distance, but Viola Kibiwott, then 24, failed the test at the iconic Bird' s Nest Stadium as she could not get past the preliminaries.

Fast track to 2015 and a confident Kibiwott, now 31, is happy to have gained another opportunity to showcase her talent at the Beijing World Championships, which starts from Aug. 22-30 in the Chinese Capital.

But unlike seven years ago, Kibiwott will not be competing in the four-lap race, but has moved up a gear and will be leading Kenya' s medal haunt in the 5,000m distance together with World Silver Medallist Mercy Cherono, Janeth Kisa and Irene Cheptai.

Their hunt for gold will be checked by Ethiopian quartet of world 1,500m champion Genzebe Dibaba, world bronze medallist Almaz Ayana, Senbere Teferi and Alemitu Hawi. Throw in Americans and Bahraini rivals and it becomes toxic.

"It is a big honour to compete in Beijing. It is one of the competitions that one has to be at their best in fitness to excel," Kibiwott told Xinhua in Nairobi Monday.

"We did well as a team back in 2008 and I hope we will again excel there. The weather conditions in Beijing are almost similar to Kenya, and it will be hot and humid and we thrive in that condition. We will do well," she added.

Beijing will not be the first world championships competition for Kibiwott. She made her debut in Osaka, Japan back in 2007 and has consistently won a slot in the team despite the choking competition in the Kenyan trials.

She has also been to Berlin, Germany (2009) and Daegu, South Korea (2011). In Osaka, she was fifth, but her performance went down in Berlin making the semis, and in Daegu she could not even go past the preliminaries. But all the three races were in the 1,500m distance.

"That is why I opted to go up," she said. "In 5,000m, it is not as competitive and quick; and if I can hold on to the final lap, then I will be able to surprise many. Kenyan runners Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Kibet and Sally Kipyego inspired me and I took the cue. Now I have to deliver the medals." Endi