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NAIROBI, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Former world steeplechase champion Milcah Chemos of Kenya will move a gear up and compete in the 5,000m flat race this season.
Chemos, who has missed the last two seasons with a back disc injury, has been forced to move up the gear on advice from his doctors.
She will thus join a chocking filed of elite runners who will be eyeing the three slots available for Kenya team to the London World Championships in August.
However, she has to start training and gauge her preparedness at the IAAF Diamond League, which starts in May in Doha after she skipped the cross country season that is almost over. The World Cross Country Championships will be held in Kampala, Uganda in two weeks' time (March 26).
"I still feel back pains but it is worse in the water and hurdle race. So I have been advised to go for flat race and the 5,000m is a good bet. I still have the energy and passion to do well at the highest level and I will go for it," she said.
While she was away, Ruth Jebet of Bahrain took over the leadership winning gold at the Rio Olympics while Kenya's Hyvin Kiyeng is the World Champion in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Meanwhile, Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge has said he aims to run 59 minutes for the first 21km in his effort to become the first marathoner in the world to run a sub-2hrs in May.
Though he has not named his preferred race, Kipchoge who is part of Nike's Sub two hours project, is feeling good in training and ready to put to test his skills.
Former 10000m world champion Moses Tanui, the first athlete to run a sub-60min in half marathon in 1993 is confident Kipchoge will succeed.
"Kipchoge has what it takes. He has the stamina and passion, with little help, he will break the world record," he said.
Marathon coach David Leting said Kipchoge has the best facility and motivation to break the world record.
"He can achieve this feat only if the pacemakers do it right. Eliud needs three good pacesetters to run marathon under two hours," said Leting. Enditem
