Injured Jepkosgei hopes for quick return after World Half Marathon

NAIROBI, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Joyciline Jepkosgei says she will return stronger after her recovery from a foot injury she sustained prior to the World Half Marathon in Valencia, Spain.

Speaking to Xinhua from Eldoret on Thursday, Jepkosgei, who despite her injury concerns, held on to win silver at the World Half Marathon last week, believes that once she is back in form she will challenge for the world record in the 10km and the half marathon.

"Success comes and goes, and to me, everything remains about my faith, training and recovery. What I have planned for 2018 is to challenge some course and world records in selected races that my management will pick. For the full marathon, I will have to bide my time and wait for 2019," she said.

Her manager Davor Savija said Jepkosgei, 25, had to take anti-inflammatory medication before the race after she sustained a minor injury in training. "Unfortunately, several days before travelling to Valencia, during a training session, Joyciline stepped on a sharp stone, which caused a moderate contusion on her left foot," Savija said.

At the event, Jepkosgei recorded a time of 1:06:54 for silver ahead of compatriot Pauline Kaveke who claimed the bronze medal.

Ethiopia's Netsanet Gudeta Kebede clocked in at 1:06:11 to win the World Half Marathon.

With no other major competition lined up this year - no world championships or Olympic Games - Jepkosgei hopes to launch her marathon debut in 2019 hoping it will offer her the opportunity to springboard her career in the 42km distance.

"I will start running in full marathons in 2019. If successful, I hope to compete in the 2020 Olympic marathon," she added. Enditem