Chebet: The ‘silver girl’ keen to make amends

World Championships Trials- Winnie Chebet

She has staged a splendid comeback from the woodwork, but former world junior 800m silver medallist Winnie Chebet still has an uphill task ahead.

She basks in five silvers – won in World Youth and World Juniors and other championships – that earned her the ‘silver girl’ tag in athletic circles.

The Thika barracks-based soldier longs to break away from the tradition and win her maiden gold medal.

Chebet, who was dropped from the Olympic Games team and replaced with 2010 World Junior silver medalist Cherono Koech, needs to put herself into the shoes of world 800m champions Janeth Jepkosgei (2007) and Eunice Sum. And Chebet has left the disappointment behind her and set her sights on the IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, next month.

“I have achieved minimal success since I graduated to senior level. But I want to give my best this year and make it to the World Championships.

"I have not hit the qualifying mark for the world championships but I am still optimistic that I can make it,” said Chebet, who has a 1:59.4 all-time best time. “I really want to be back to where I was in 2005. I feel I can achieve my targets,” said Chebet.

Her remarks comes even as Kenya faces a shortage of women 800m runners at the global stage – with only (Janeth) Jepkosgei and (Eunice) Sum running the shows.

“The times at the national trials will help gauge my form. I like training in Kericho since my body is accustomed to that place,” said Chebet, who trains under Ricky Simms, the British kingmaker who manages world 100m and 200m record holder Usain Bolt of Jamaica and a galaxy of Kenyan elite athletes.

Chebet shot into the senior limelight in 2009 when she trailed South Africa’s Caster Semenya at the Africa junior Athletics Championships in Mauritius.

“That was when I realised that I could compete well at the senior level. I went to the African Juniors in Mauritius that year (2009) with high hopes,” said Chebet.