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Kenya' s Aprot stakes claim in Spain race, eyes World cross title

Xinhua, November 22, 2016 Adjust font size:

Africa 10,000m champion Alice Aprot has thrown down the gauntlet warning her rivals to watch out as she seeks to conquer both the world cross and world championships in 2017.

Aprot, 22, missed out on the medal podium in the Rio Olympics finishing fourth and wants to rectify her mistake and go for the gold at the World Championships in London in 2017.

However, she intends to send clear her message at the world cross country championships, which is coming up in March 26 in Kampala, Uganda by winning the senior women' s 10km race.

"It is always good to start off well in a season. I have always supported the cross country and was unlucky to win bronze in Bydgoszcz, Poland back in 2011. Injuries and loss of form have played part to deny me more opportunities and having just gone through that, I want to stake claim to the gold medal in Kampala in March," she said Tuesday in Nairobi.

Aprot was speaking after she returned to the country having beaten her rivals during the Campo Traves Internacional de Soria cross country meeting in Spain on Saturday.

Aprot who became the third successive Kenyan winner of the women' s senior race in Soria clocked 26:18 to win the 8km category.

Mercy Cherono and Linet Masai won the 2014 and 2015 editions and Aprot who finished fourth at the Rio Olympics women 10,000m ensured Kenya retained the title.

Aprot beat Uganda' s Juliet Chekwel to second in 27:30 while Olympic 1500m finalist Sofia Ennaoui of Poland timed 27:51 in third.

"I have two more races to compete in Italy and Spain and then I will focus my attention on improving my fitness and sharpen my speed skills. I believe that will be enough to endure the pain of the Kenyan trials in February and make the team to Kampala," she added.

Kenya is aiming to reign supreme at the world cross country as has been the tradition, but Ethiopia and Eritrea have always stood tall in the path.

However, next year you can' t rule out the threat of host Uganda as they seek to dominate the event on home soil. But Aprot is keen to take them all in her strides and hope to emerge victorious. Endit