Team Kenya debutant Shyline Jepkorir angling for a medal at World Championships marathon

Shyline Jepkorir on the left

ATHLETICS Team Kenya debutant Shyline Jepkorir angling for a medal at World Championships marathon

Abigael Wafula 11:44 - 22.06.2023

She will be donning the Team Kenya jersey for the first time and she’ll be hoping to raise the country’s flag high.

Reigning Enschede Marathon champion Shyline Jepkorir is hoping to make a statement when she lines up for the marathon at the World Championships from August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Hungary.

Jepkorir, a shy and soft-spoken lady, said she was privileged to be selected for the national team after the withdrawal of world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei and Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Sheila Chepkirui.

Jepkorir will be donning the Team Kenya jersey for the first time and she will be hoping to raise the country’s flag high once she takes on tough opponents.

She will enjoy the company of Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru and the 2022 Frankfurt Marathon champion Selly Kaptich. The reserves in the squad are Margaret Wangari Muriuki and Betty Chepkwony.

“I was happy to be selected in the Team Kenya squad and I’m proud to represent the country. I promise that I will go and do my best to bring back a medal,” she said.

She added that she has prepared well for the race and she will continue stepping up her preparations ahead of the event.

“I have prepared well and I will keep working hard. I’m not racing in any other race and my focus is now on Budapest. I will just invest my time in training,” she said.

Kenya lost the title during last year’s World Championships in Oregon, USA when Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase took top honours. Judith Korir settled for second place in the race.

Jepkorir also believes the marathon team selected is capable of taking back the glory despite the presence of defending champions Tamirat Tola and Gebreslase.

She revealed that she started her athletics career in 2017 and since then, she has never looked back. She does her training in Iten and draws her inspiration from some of the top female marathoners in the country including 2022 Boston Marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir and 2021 London Marathon champion Joyciline Jepkosgei.

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