Kenya has suffered a huge setback ahead of the 2022 World Athletics Championships scheduled to kick off this Friday in Oregon, United States after losing Peres Jepchirchir to injury.
The 28-year-old marathoner picked up a hip injury while preparing for the global event.
Speaking to Nation, the reigning Olympic and World Half marathon champion disclosed that she is hugely disappointed.
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“I am so disappointed but I would rather not aggravate the injury since we still have another world event next year before my Olympic title defense at the 2024 Paris Summer Games,” Jepchirchir told Nation Sports.
Jepchirchir came into the limelight two years ago when she smashed the world record (Women’s only) at the 2020 World Athletics Half Marathon Championships staged in Gdynia, Poland.
She ran a brilliant race to reach the tape in 1:05:16, shelving the previous record she set in Prague by 18 seconds.
The Kapsabet-based runner has been in perfect form in the last two years. She won four of the major road races that she took part in, including the prestigious TSC New York City Marathon. In New York, she humbled compatriot Brigid Kosgei who is the current world record holder over the distance.
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Some of the other road races that Jepchirchir has won are Czech Republic’s 2020 Prague Half Marathon and Maraton Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP staged in Spain.
With Jepchirchir’s absence, Kenya will now be banking on World Athletics Championships marathon defending champion Ruth Chepngetich, Angela Tanui and 2019 Kaptagat Half Marathon runners-up Judith Jeptum Korir to bring the gold medal home.
Kenya’s athletes are currently finalizing their last touches in Nairobi. The field and track athletes have pitched their camp in Kasarani while those who will take part in long races are in Karura.
The first batch of Kenya’s squad is expected to depart the country for Eugene, Oregon on Tuesday, July 12.
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