Plotting conquest: After several failed attempts, Kibiwott returns to Beijing worlds in search of victory

After several failed attempts, Viola Kibiwott is keen to go one better when the 15th IAAF World Athletics Championships kick off in Beijing, China, on Saturday next week.

Ms Kibiwott, who made the national team while a pupil at Matungen Primary School in Keiyo South, is the only one among six athletes, who will return to the iconic Birds Nest Stadium in Beijing, China, after competing in the 2008 Olympic Games, despite having failed to win a medal then.

Kenyans are hopeful that their historic good showing while competing in major championships in Asia, will be replayed as they did at the Seoul Olympics (1988), Tokyo Worlds (1991), Osaka Worlds (2007), Beijing Olympics (2008) and the Daegu, South Korea Worlds (2011).

“I am happy to be back again to Beijing. Kenya’s good performance in Asia may be due to the good weather conditions at this time of the year. We will do well,” said Kibiwott.

Although she has made the national team for major championships more times than any other Kenyan runner, Kibiwott has also missed podium finishes on many occasions.

But she hails from the same area as former World Cross-Country Junior champion Rose Kosgei, veteran Jepkorir Ayabei and former Africa Junior 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Stephen Kiprotich.

Within a radius of five-kilometre lives the World 5,000m and 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot and World Marathon champion Edna Kiplagat.

SEALED THIRD SPOT

In 2002, she returned to the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships in Dublin, Ireland, where she retained her junior title – to become the first athlete to strike a double at the world cross-country junior title.

 Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba followed in 2008 (Edinburgh, Scotland) and 2009 (Amman, Jordan) before Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon sealed the third spot at the global showpiece in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in 2013.

Kibiwott ended her 2002 yearbook on a high note, winning the IAAF World Junior 1,500m final in Kingston, Jamaica. As a senior, she struggled to match her junior success and was outside of the top twenty in the senior short race at the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships in 2003, and again at the 2005 race in St Etienne, France.

“You know I started off as a 1,500m runner. In Kenya there are a few 1,500m runners and the competition is slightly low. When I stepped up to 5,000m, I met the best runners like Vivian Cheruiyot, Sylvia Kibet and Sally Kipyego,” said Kibiwott.

Kibiwott will join forces with Irene Chemutai, Janeth Kisa and World 5,000m silver medalist Mercy Cherono. They will take on Ethiopia’s strong line that includes record-breaking Genzebe Dibaba, Almaz Ayana, Senbere Teferi, Alemitu Hawi and Azmera Gebru.

Ms Dibaba will be looking to arrest her series of below-par performances in previous World Championships outdoors races. Her record to date is as follows: Ninth over 5000m in 2009, eighth over 5000m in 2011, and eighth again over 1500m in Moscow 2013.

Almaz Ayana will also be eyeing gold in Beijing after bronze in the 5000m in Moscow, 2013.