I’ll be on the podium in Oregon

Olympic marathon champion Peris Jepchirchir has promised Kenyans a medal at the world Athletics championships in Eugene, Oregon, United States, next month.

Kenya’s team will be defending the title held by Ruth Chepng’etich who won it at the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships after she clocked 2:32:43.

The women’s marathon in Eugene is scheduled for July 18, a day after the men’s event.

Jepchirchir said he was excited when she read in a local daily that she was one of those selected o join Team Kenya’s residential camp.

“I saw in the newspaper that I had been called up in the squad and was elated and I told myself that to disappoint would be the biggest mistake I could make,” she said.

Based in Nandi, Jepchirchir said she joined the team late but nonetheless noted that this will not deter her determination to do well.

Jepchirchir won gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games clocking 2:27:20 and is a two-time world half-marathon champion. Her personal best marathon time is 2:17:16 which she attained in Valencia.

In 2017, Jepchirchir set the world record in the Half Marathon after returning 65.06minutes at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) course.

“I will be happy if I win at World Athletics championships and to me, that is not too much to ask,” said Jepchirchir.

In the 2019 Saitama marathon, she broke her own record to 2.23.50 which was her third marathon to compete in and her first after her maternity leave.

“I thank God for being in Team Kenya and also my fans who have been my greatest inspiration,” said the New York City Marathon champion.

Jepchirchir has promised her fans not to let them down and asked them to pray for her to be in good health so that she will be able to deliver her promise.

She said at first, she was skeptical about taking part because there was little time to train for the race.

“Recently I came from Boston and I found that there was little time for training but I believe in myself. I then gave it a second thought and felt I didn’t want to lose the chance. As you may recall, after the Olympics I came and went to compete in New York and won,” said Jepchirchir.

Jepchirchir is hopeful that through divine providence she will perform well.

Jepchirchir will lead Kenyans onslaught in the race that will also include compatriots Ruth Chepng’etich, Paris Parathon champion Judith Jeptum Korir and Amsterdam Marathon champion Angela Tanui who will be travelling as reserve.