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Kenya's Kiplagat dreams of competing at London world championships

Xinhua, October 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chicago marathon champion Florence Kiplagat from Kenya on Tuesday showed her confidence that her performance will convince the selectors name her in the Kenya team for the World Championships in London in 2017.

Kiplagat, 27, has dominated the marathon circuit in the last five years but has not earned a call to the national team. The last time she was named in the reserve team for the Rio Olympic Games despite finishing third (2:23:39) at the London marathon.

"It is not all about me. I have consistently proven my worth and said I do my own programme and run my own race irrespective of who is my rival. I hope winning Chicago for the second year will encourage the selectors to have their trust in me ahead of the London 2017," she said.

Indeed, Kenya is one of the countries that is endowed with a huge talent base. With over 50 athletes having run under the 2:30 minutes in women, the selectors will always have difficulties in selecting the best three for any international competition.

"I still have my timetable and even if I will not be named in the Kenya team, I can still compete in bid city marathon next year. For now I take my deserved rest and see what will come up early next year," she said.

Kenyan women have posted top performances in Tokyo, Berlin, Chicago, London, New York and Boston - the top city marathons and this trend is not about to end.

Even Olympic marathon champion Jemimah Sumgong believes it is harder to make the Kenya team than winning at the international level.

"We are so many top runners and each has her strength and it is down to small details that coaches look out for. Hopefully, we get the right people next year," she said Tuesday from Eldoret.

Sumgong says the April marathons in Boston, London, Rotterdam and Paris will be key for Athletics Kenya selectors and maintained she will be back in London next year to defend her title.

"I don' t know which races for now that my other friends will run next year but I will return to London to defend my title. It will be really difficult to select the Kenyan team for the World Championships because many ladies are doing well. Like Florence proved in Chicago, Kenya now has a huge depth of talent. Next is New York marathon (November 6) and you still expect tough competition from Kenyans," Sumgong said.

Kiplagat won in Chicago in 2:21:32, which was a second faster than last year's time of 2:23:33. Another Kenyan Edna Kiplagat, who is a former World marathon champion was second in 2:23:28 with two other Kenyans Valentine Kipketer (2:23:41) and Purity Rionoripo (2:24:47) completing the sweep.

The men's race was also a Kenyan sweep, with two-time world champion Abel Kirui 2:11:23 beating defending champion Dickson Chumba (2:11:26) in a battle of mind games to win. Gideon Kipketer (2:12:20) was third, Paul Lonyangata (2:13:17) fourth and Stephen Sambu (2:13:35) fifth. Endit