Chemos won’t defend title at Scotland games

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. The World 3,000m steeplechase champion will not defend her Commonwealth title in Glasgow, Scotland.

What you need to know:

  • Chemos, 27, has pulled out of the July 23-August 3 games to focus on her preparations for World Cup on September 13 in Marrakech, Morocco. 
  • Chemos was highly tipped to prevail at the 2012 London Olympics having shattered an African record on June 7 in Oslo with personal best 9:07:14. However, she would finish fourth in a race won by Russian Yuliya Zaripova.

World 3,000m steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos will not defend her Commonwealth title in Glasgow, Scotland.

Chemos, 27, has pulled out of the July 23-August 3 games to focus on her preparations for World Cup on September 13 in Marrakech, Morocco. 

But before The World Cup, also known at the IAAF Continental Cup, Chemos, who holds the African record time of 9:07.14, wants to take a short at the Africa Championships due August 10 to 14 in the same Moroccan city.

“My target is to improve on my time this season to a sub 9:05 or even better,” Chemos who is currently training in Kapsabet under her coach and husband Alex Sang, said.

“It won’t be possible for me to take part in the Commonwealth Games that end a week before the continental event.”

Chemos, 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 will also be good to give other people a chance in Glasgow,” said Chemos, who won World Championships bronze medals in 2009 in Berlin and 2011 in Daegu, South Korea before finally claiming the gold medal at the Moscow Worlds late last year.

Chemos was highly tipped to prevail at the 2012 London Olympics having shattered an African record on June 7 in Oslo with personal best 9:07:14. However, she would finish fourth in a race won by Russian Yuliya Zaripova.