Injured Kenya's Chemutai eyes return to action in July

NAIROBI, May 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Fancy Chemutai believes she will be over her ankle injury and back in competition in July.

The 23-year-old was forced off the Kenya team to the World Half Marathon Championships in March and has not raced since.

Speaking from Eldoret on Thursday, she said she has started light training and will be back in top form in four weeks' time.

"I always push my body hard and that is why I won in Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates with an ankle problem in my preparation. Sadly, that win cost the injury to aggravate and I had to take some rest. I believe to return strong soon," she added.

Chemutai believes her best bet will be on the road races and though she has not ruled out competing in the Africa Championships in 10,000m, she believes she can post some fast time when she is fully fit.

"The Africa Championships inspires me, but it is not down to me. I will do my best to make the team, but I also want to run some fast time in road races, maybe in 10 or 15km events," she said.

Already Athletics Kenya has changed the dates for the National Championships, which will be used as the trial competition for the African Championships. The event that was scheduled for July 5-7, has now been pushed forward to June 21-23.

"We have been forced to bring forward the trial dates to June so as to give chance to our athletes to participate at the Zurich Diamond League," said AK President Jack Tuwei.

South Africa dominated the 2016 Africa Championships winning 33 medals- 16 gold, nine silver and eight bronze ahead of Kenya, who won 24 medals in the event held in Durban. Enditem