NAIROBI, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- World 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech is hopeful this new season will see her strike three titles.
Despite making the Kenyan team to the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus, Denmark on March 30, Chepkoech said her focus is on retaining the IAAF Diamond League trophy and winning the 3,000m title at the World Championships in Qatar.
"It is always a pleasure to secure a ticket to represent Kenya. This time round it will be in cross country, my second show after making the relay team in the 2017 edition in Kampala. I am ready to learn and the coaches will help polish up the skills," Chepkoech said on Thursday.
However, the Africa water and hurdle race champion feels her failure to clinch the world title in London in 2017 will inspire her to work hard to ascend to the winner's podium in Doha.
"I had a poor plan in London and was sad to finish out of the medal bracket (fourth). It was the same thing in the Rio Olympics. But I have gained experience and hope to win in Doha."
Chepkoech broke the 3,000m steeplechase world record in the IAAF Diamond League in Monaco after clocking 8:44.32, lowering Ruth Jebet's previous time by eight seconds.
But that will remain history as she shifts gears to cross country. Chepkoech will team up with world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, Beatrice Mutai, Deborah Samum, Eva Cherono and Lilian Kasait in the senior women's race.
However, she says she is ready for the challenge from Uganda and Ethiopia, whom she believes are the favorites.
"It is about mind games. We will be all lining up and how we run, who will take the lead and push the pace until the final lap will be part of the team work. But I want to win my first individual gold in cross country before facing the track competition," she added.
The world record holder is using the cross country event as a build up to her season where she will be participating in the Diamond Leagues series and later the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.
The 28-year-old has proved her prowess across the middle distance winning bronze for Kenya in the African Games in Brazzaville, Congo in 1,500m before finishing fourth in the Rio Olympics 3,000m steeplechase - won by Kenya-born Bahraini Ruth Jebet.
Last year, she bagged silver in 1,500om behind Caster Semenya at the Commonwealth Games before winning the Africa Championships 3,000m steeplechase gold in Nigeria. She would then go on to claim the IAAF Continental Cup in Ostrava, Czech Republic in late 2018.
