Chepkurui seeking fourth straight run at World Cross

By MUTWIRI MUTUOTA

Lineth Chepkurui turns only 23 four days after the February 19 National Championships but as far as the World Cross is concerned, the Kenya Airforce Senior Private based at Moi Airbase is already a veteran.

Should she grab one of the six berths available in the senior women 8km category in Uhuru Gardens as expected, Chepkurui will mark her fourth uninterrupted run on Team Kenya’s World Cross set-up.

"Cross Country is my favourite race. Before I embark on my season, I must compete at cross country since for me it is the best form of build-up," the accomplished road racer who holds the fastest all time female mark over 12km (38:07) said after recapturing her Armed Forces Cross Country crown in Laikipia on Saturday.

Linet Chepkurui during a past competition. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

Since bursting to the national set-up in 2008 where she returned 12th in the women’s long race in Edinburgh, Chepkurui returned to Amman a year later where she improved to fifth and at the last edition in Bydgoszcz, Poland, placed just outside the medals in fourth.

Good shape

Additionally, Chepkurui went to Amman and Bydgoszcz as the vice-captain, deputising fellow soldier Mark Kiptoo (2009) and Kenya Police instructor Richard Mateelong last year. Any other athlete would be proud of such progression but the talent distance exponent is still seething about Bydgoszcz.

"I was in very good shape and it was my race for the taking but poor tactics cost me victory and in the end, I did not get even a medal. The only thing good about it was that I helped my team to win the team title. "This year, it is my hope that this is my time. I have trained hard but most importantly, I have been working to change my tactics. To run my own race and not mind what others are doing. That is what will work for me," she explained her angst at missing on the podium in Poland as well as her aspirations for forthcoming March 20 Punta Umbria World Cross in Spain.

Second team title

After bagging her second team title medal, Chepkurui hit the road with such venom, stringing a number of impressive victories in her favoured United States hunting ground.

She defended her Bay to Breakers title (12km) in 38:07, a course record that was the fastest ever time raced by a female runner. However, this did not enter record books since the route used is not recognised as ‘record quality course.’

A fortnight earlier, she had breezed to a 38:10 route record triumph at the Lilac Bloomsday Run, which is now acknowledged by The Association of Road Racing Statisticians as the women’s world record over 12km. International governing body, IAAF however, does not recognise outdoor or indoor world record over that distance.

Perhaps informed by this, Chepkurui disclosed, "After the World Cross, I will go for the world record in 10km or 15km. I will also try to seek a place in the team for the World Championships in Daegu. I missed the Commonwealth Games with slight injury but that is behind me now."

"I will also run a few half marathons since I’m aiming to progress over the distances towards the full marathon," she added.