I have come of age, says Kenya's World Cross winner Agnes Jebet

Newly crowned World Cross Country Championships senior women’s champion Agnes Jebet has said good preparations helped her bag the title in Guiyang, China last weekend.

The 19-year-old Jebet displayed a maturity beyond her years to win the 8km race in 26 minutes 1 second, beating the hard-chasing Ethiopians Senbere Teferi (26.06) and Netsanet Gudeta (26:11) to silver and bronze respectively.

Jebet, a form three student of Moi University Secondary School in Uasin Gishu, won Kenya the 300th world cross medal at the same time becoming the second youngest ever gold medallist after Zola Budd’s victory in 1985.

Among seasoned runners Jebet floored in the race include pre-race favourite and two-time winner Emily Chebet, who finished sixth in 26:18.

Jebet, who made her first appearance in the senior cadre during the Athletics Kenya Cross Country series and world cross trials, said she was well prepared for the task.

“I had seen the world cross title coming because when I pushed myself into the senior ranks, the performances in the close to five meetings I participated in ended up in spectacular fashion,” she said.

LOW SPIRITS

The 2013 World Cross Country junior women’s silver medallist recounted how the withdrawal of her closest friend Faith Jepng’etich almost dampened her spirits.

“Jepng’etich and I are very close and it was hard to see her pull out due to an injury,” she added.

Jepng’etich, who dropped out of the team owing an injury, beat Jebet to silver in the previous junior championships held in Bydgoszcz, Poland. She was received back at her home on Wednesday.

Jebet adds that she will be glad to make it to the Kenyan team for the IAAF World Championships in Beijing China in August.

“I think it is now evident that I have come of age. I will be glad to represent my country at the world championships.”