Ruth Chepngetich gears up for Istanbul Half Marathon

After finishing third in the National Cross Country Championship, reigning World Marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich has revealed that she enrolled for this year's competition to boost her speed ahead of the Istanbul Half Marathon.

Chepngetich finished behind Daisy Cherotich and Sheila Chelagat during the championship staged at the Ngong Racecourse to book a place in the Kenyan team for the Africa Cross Country Championship penciled for March 7 in Lome, Togo.

The London Marathon bronze medalist said she joined the hundreds of runners in the event to thrust her speed ahead of the Istanbul Half Marathon set for April 4. Chepngetich said she was impressed with her performance this year having finished a distant 20th last year. 

"I joined the race to push my speed and gauge my readiness for the Istanbul race. I am surprised to have finished third this year since I am a marathoner and I was competing with athletes who ran shorter distances which are normally fast. Last year, I placed number 20 and claiming bronze on a tough course is quite something for me," she said

The former Dubai Marathon champion in the meantime believes the gold medal in the Olympics will be hers to lose. The 26-year old admitted that finishing third during last year's London Marathon inspired her to set a lofty target in the rescheduled Tokyo games.

Chepngetich made it to the Kenyan Marathon team alongside record holder Brigid Kosgei, Frankfurt Marathon champion Valary Aiyabei, 5000m Olympic champion Vivian Cheruiyot and the 2014 World Half Marathon bronze medalist Sally Chepyego

"Finishing third in London motivated me to work harder for the Olympics. Bagging the gold medal in Tokyo remains my irreducible minimum even though I am yet to hit the right shape." she opened up