Kosgei targets Olympics gold and another world record after Chicago heroics
World marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei is warming up to a bright future.
Kosgei, who set a new mark of 1:14:28 to shave off 81 seconds from Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year world record in the Chicago Marathon on Sunday, says it’s her time and hopes to break her own record, while also targeting the Olympics gold in Tokyo, Japan next year.
The mother of twins Faith Chepchumba and Brian Kibet was the guest of honour at Riadha House yesterday where she was received by Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei and NEC member Barnaba Korir among other officials upon her return from Chicago. “My motto is go! go! go!. That keeps me going even in training where I run with men. I prefer them to go way ahead of me before I start chasing. With such kind of support, I will lower my time,” said the athlete, who also holds the women’s half marathon time of 1:04:28 set at the Great North Run in August.
Tuwei said the federation was privileged to welcome a marathon record holder for the first time since 2014, when the then men’s bearer Dennis Kimetto had the same honours.
“I want to congratulate Brigid for coming with a world record. As a federation, we take so much pride. As a country, we are privileged to hold both the men’s and women’s marathon titles,” said Tuwei in reference to Kosgei’s and Eliud Kipchoge’s 2:01:39 mark set in Berlin last year. “Her growth has been steady when your look at her progress. The consistency in her races is admirable,” added Tuwei. Kosgei credits her coach Eric Kimaiyo, of Kapsait Athletics Training Camp in Elgeyo Marakwet, and her husband for giving her hope when she seemed to have hit the wall.
“Without my husband Mathew and coach Kimaiyo, I couldn’t be here today. People have made sacrifices for me to be here,” said Kosgei, who in 2017 and 2018 finished the Chicago Marathon in 2:20:22 and 2:18:35, respectively.
“For my pacemakers for guiding me to this historic fete, I thank you for your sacrifices. Now I want to continue working hard to lower my record,” added the 2019 London marathon champion.
Kimaiyo thanked AK for allowing the athlete to skip the World Championships in Doha in favour of the record.
“I didn’t want to spoil the party. We had been planning for the record assault. In training, I had a feeling something special was coming. I told Barnaba Korir to expect a world record,” said Kimaiyo.
On the issue of running clean, the coach takes pride in the manner Kosgei has conducted herself in regards to complying with the required doping tests.
“She was tested six times before the Chicago marathon. Honestly, I think that is too much. But I am happy she has never declined any test. She is the perfect example of the many athletes who run clean,” Kimaiyo said of the marathoner who is under the Rosa Associati Management.
