Returning Chemos sets sights on Rio
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. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- Runner seeks to return to the top
- In 2010, she won the Diamond League trophy after victories in five meetings.
The 2013 World 3,000m women’s steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos has resumed full training after being sidelined with a spinal injury.
Chemos earned Kenya her first world title in women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics held in Russia but the injured athlete did not defend her title in Beijing four months ago.
However, Chemos, who also holds the African record, has set her sights on clinching a slot in the national team that will compete in 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
The athlete, who holds the rank of inspector in Kenya Police, has resumed normal training sessions back at her Kapsabet base in Nandi County.
“The injury has interfered with my plans. My training schedule has been adversely affected but I’m on my way back,” Chemos, winner of bronze medal at both 2009 and 2011 editions of the World Championship, said.
Her first competitive race will be in Athletics Kenya Track and Field season which will begin in March next year.
“I have recovered. The task at hand is to fight for a chance in Kenya’s team for 2016 Olympic Games where I will try to win another big title,” Chemos added. She still has fond memories of her victory in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.
Chemos hails from Mount Elgon region which is known for producing top steeplechasers like Richard Mateelong and 2015 World Youth 2,000m steeplechase champion Cellphine Chepteek. Chemos is from a family of athletes as Masai siblings Moses and Linet are her cousins.
Chemos, 29, claimed silver medal at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, failing to retain the title she won in 2010 in Delhi. The former student of Maragoli Girls Secondary School in Vihiga County first started competing in 800m and 1,500m races.
She finished seventh at the national trials and missed out on a place in Team Kenya for 2008 Olympics but was proud to have finished only 12 seconds behind winner Pamela Jelimo who went on to win the world title.
A year later, she switched to steeplechase and claimed bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin in what was at the time her personal best of 9min,08.57secs.
In 2010, she won the Diamond League trophy after victories in five meetings.
