NAIROBI, Oct. 19 (Xinhua) -- After shattering her own world half marathon record at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, Peres Jepchirchir has turned her guns towards the Valencia Marathon set for Dec. 6.
The 27-year-old Kenyan broke her own previous world record in the women's half marathon by crossing the line in 1:05:16 to win the women's gold over the weekend and now embarks on full marathon preparations.
"It felt great to reclaim my title in Poland and become world champion again, having won the same title in Cardiff in 2016. For now, I will have a few days rest before starting my preparations for the Valencia Marathon. We have had a troubled season due to coronavirus so we must take advantage of the few running opportunities available and maximize on them," Jepchirchir told Xinhua on Monday upon arrival in Nairobi from Poland.
"I have seen a classy lineup in Valencia and I feel we will have faster times, that's my target," said Jepchirchir who trains in Kapsabet, some 46km from Eldoret alongside her husband Davis Ngeno who acts as her pacer in training.
Jepchirchir will face up against a stellar field that includes fellow Kenyans Joyciline Jepkosgei, former world half marathon record-holder, Joan Chelimo and Fancy Chemutai and USA's Jordan Hasay.
The world half marathon championships men's title was won by 19-year-old Jacob Kiplimo of Uganda who upset the field to take gold in a championship record time of 58:49.
The Ugandan edged out Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya and Ethiopia's Amedework Walelegn, who finished second and third respectively. Enditem
