Chemos targets Steeplechase record
PHOTO | AFP Kenya's Milcah Chemos Cheywa celebrates after winning the women's 3000 metres steeplechase final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow on August 13, 2013.
What you need to know:
- Chemos said she is determined to shave off some minutes from her current personal best 9:07.14 set in the Diamond League leg of Oslo, Norway on June 7, 2012.
- Chemos was highly tipped to prevail at the 2012 London Olympic Games especially having shattered the African Record on June 7 in Oslo with personal best 9:07:14, two months before the London Summer Games. But she would only settle for a fourth place finish in a race won by Russian Yuliya Zaripova.
World 3,000m Steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos has said the seven-year-old standing World Record time of eight minutes, 58.81 seconds by Russian Gulnara Samitova-Galkina is beatable.
Chemos, who is currently training in Kapsabet, said she is determined to shave off some minutes from her current personal best 9:07.14 set in the Diamond League leg of Oslo, Norway on June 7, 2012.
“The difference is just nine seconds and if I am to train well and stay focused then it’s possible,” said Chemos, who has already indicated that she will not defend her Commonwealth title when the Games start on July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland. She instead wants to focus on the Africa Championships from where a team for the World Cup will be selected.
The continental event is due August 10 to 14 in Marrakech, Morocco, the same venue that will host the World Cup on September 13.
PRE-CLASSIC VICTORY
But before the World Cup that is also known at the IAAF Continental Cup, the athlete, who is currently training in Kapsabet under her coach and husband Alex Sang, is targeting victory at the Shanghai and Prefontaine Classic on May 17 and 31 respectively.
Chemos is the only Kenyan runner to win the women’s steeplechase at the Pre Classic, doing it twice with her recently victory coming in 2012 with a time of 9:13.69. Once again Chemos will be up against compatriot and World silver medallist Lydia Chepkurui and bronze medallist Sofia Assefa from Ethiopia in Shanghai and at the Pre Classic.
The world champion, who won silver at the 2010 World Cup, said it will only be wise for her to try and reclaim the Africa title she won for the first time in Nairobi in 2010 before seeking her maiden title at the Continental Cup.
“It’s also wise to give other people a chance in Glasgow,” said Chemos, who won World Championships bronze medals in 2009 Berlin and 2011 Daegu before finally claiming gold at 2013 Moscow Worlds.
OLYMPICS HEARTBREAK
Chemos was highly tipped to prevail at the 2012 London Olympic Games especially having shattered the African Record on June 7 in Oslo with personal best 9:07:14, two months before the London Summer Games. But she would only settle for a fourth place finish in a race won by Russian Yuliya Zaripova.
“That is why I want to prepare well as I also focus on the Diamond League starting in Shanghai in May,” said Chemos, the winner of the 2013 Diamond Series.
