Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir crosses the line to win the women’s race in the 2024 London Marathon, on April 21, 2024. [AFP]
For Peres Jepchirchir, returning to Japan for the 2025 World Athletics Championships next month rekindles memories of her Olympic marathon victory in Tokyo in 2021.
On Thursday, Jepchirchir, who is the most decorated marathoner in the Kenyan squad to the Tokyo World Championships said it was exciting to return to Japan where she delivered her first Olympic title nearly four years ago.
Jepchirchir, a winner of London, New York City and Boston marathons said during the official launch of the Team Kenya training camp at the Kipkeino High Performance Training Centre in Eldoret that the marathon charges were ready for the Tokyo World Championships action next month.
Follow The Standard
channel
on WhatsApp
She will be debuting at the World Championships and hopes to win a medal in Japan, just like during her maiden Olympic title.
At the 2020 Olympic Games, she ran in Sapporo but next month, the world marathon will be staged in Tokyo.
“I’m so happy to represent Kenya for the first time in the World Marathon. We have prepared well for the team marathon and we are ready to perform well and bring home the medals,” said Jepchirchir.
“Going to Tokyo brings back good memories. It was in Japan where I won my first Olympic medal in the marathon. I have good memories there and I have hopes that I’m going to do well.”
The three-time World Half Marathon champion said she was going to build a strong team spirit with compatriots Jackline Cherono and Magdaline Masai for an impressive performance.
“I have not competed in any race since the Paris Olympics last year because of an injury. We know we are going to try our best in Tokyo,” Jepchirchir said.
She added: “I know that Ethiopia has selected a strong team and the competition is going to be tough but we are also strong.
“Since 2021, I ran in London and broke the women-only world record which has been broken and a number of improvements give me the motivation to compete in Tokyo.”
The Tokyo World Championships pre-departure camp was officially opened by Athletics Kenya (AK) President Jackson Tuwei.
African 800m silver medallist Nicholas Kebenei also expressed confidence of a stellar show in Tokyo.
Kebenei is in the 800m brigade alongside world silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Kelvin Loti.
Like Jepchirchir, the 2025 Tokyo World Championships is his debut in the premier global show.
With barely four weeks until the World Championships, Kebenei is looking to test his speed at the Brussels Diamond League on August 22.
“This is my first time being in the World Championships. I have been to the African Games before,” he said during the launch.
He continued: “I will be going to the Brussels Diamond League and the ultimate goal is to make our country proud. Many athletes are doing 1:41 or 1:42 and we are trying to focus on speed work and execution. I am targeting 1:42 at Brussels before heading to the World Championships.
“Compared to Nairobi, the conditions in Eldoret are much better because we have access to a number of facilities including the track at Lornah Kiplagat in Iten.”
For the second year in a row, the Kazi Mingi Farm owned by 1968 Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino, and which has the High Performance Training Centre has been honored with hosting Team Kenya to a global showpiece.
Last year, the serene training camp hosted Team Kenya to the Paris Olympics. The Tokyo World Championships squad reported to Kazi Mingi a week ago.
Team Kenya coach Gideon Chirchir said tacticians are bonding the team ahead of departure.
He said releasing a number of Team Kenya stars to the Diamond Leagues is part of the preparations for the global event set for September 13-21.