The World 10,000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri is expected to headline a stellar line-up of elite athletes attending the Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship next week.
The two-time world 5,000m champion returned to the country on Monday from her training base in Colorado, USA, where she has settled with her family.
Obiri heads into the battlefield, buoyed by her recent sublime runs, which led her to triumphs in the Boston Marathon and Great Manchester Run.
While she is unsure whether she will run the 5,000m or 10,000m, the 33-year-old sergeant plans to replicate her previous feats where she obliterated the field to storm four 5,000m titles.
“I’ve returned home to take part in a few local events. I’ll probably go for my fifth 5,000m title at the KDF meet, but I’m not sure if I’ll also compete in the 10,000m,” Obiri remarked upon her arrival on Monday afternoon.
Obiri said she will be using the KDF event to gauge her speed ahead of future course assignments. She is coming off her third Great Manchester Run 10km title, which she successfully defended in 31:14 over the weekend.
After winning the race for the first time in 2019 where she clocked 31:23, Obiri reclaimed the championship last year with a track record time of 30:15, breaking the previous mark of 30:52 set in 2021 by Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan.
“Occasionally, it’s a good idea to attempt running the 10k race after taking part in the marathon to determine your speed. I have been doing exactly that,” Obiri stated.
“My physique has been in terrific form ever since I started competing in cross-country races in January. I have won every race I have entered, and I intend to keep it up for the remainder of the season. I’m going to concentrate and work out hard.”
Obiri ruled out the possibility of plying trade for Kenya at the World Championship slated for August in Budapest, Hungary.
“My decision to compete in the track event at the World Championships is not yet certain. Additionally, I do not have the experience necessary to win a marathon race if I decide to compete because I have only run two marathons.”
But she resolved to fight tooth and nail for a gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
“Naturally, I’ll be the one to hoist the national flag at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. I’ll be pursuing my first and last Olympic medal before I retire. Since I have never won a gold medal at the Olympics, Paris will be my final opportunity,” Obiri stated.
Obiri rubbished claims that she has permanently abandoned Kenya for the US. “I’m only training in the United States because my family lives there. It’s more convenient to work out near your family because it offers you more time to focus on what you’re doing than when they’re a big distance away.”
“In addition, training outside provides better exposure because the coach, management, and the company are all present. As a result, you have a 100 percent chance of success.”
