Kenya: Kipyego Ready to Shake Off Opposiotion in Daegu Show

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

William Njuguna

4 August 2011

United States-based 10,000m runner Sally Kipyego is not worried with the opposition she is likely to face at the World athletics Championships in Daegu next month.

Kipyego, who is representing the country for the first time, said she is relishing the challenge of not only running alongside the two Kenyans-Vivian Cheruiyot and Linet Masai- but even their Ethiopian rivals. “I have watched the two Kenyans win medals for this country and I want to share in the glory by not only escorting them to Daegu but by making it to the podium too,” she said.

Kipyego trained in Iten before finishing second at the Kenya trials. She said she has no jitters about representing the country at big stage. ” It’s natural that as a first time athlete, you tend to have stage fright but as far as I am concerned, I am confident I will do the country proud,” added Kipyego.

Kipyego ran the 5,000 meters at the Stockholm Grand Prix meeting last week, where she clocked 14:43.87 and finished second, behind Cheruiyot in the race. “I am happy with my performance in Stockholm and having run alongside a quality field has given me confidence to do even better come the world event,” she added. She said she may have to alter her training regime as the weather is expected to be hot and humid in Daegu.

“We may have to change our training to suit the weather in Daegu. We also need to arrive in Daegu early in order to acclimatise,” she added. The USA-based runner said she is not worried about the Ethiopian runners as her focus was on winning at least a medal. Kipyego noted she is working on her endurance in the build-up to the world event.

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