体坛英语新闻：Kenya's Jeptoo targets Beijing World marathon championship

NAIROBI, Dec. 2 (Xinhua) -- Olympic marathon silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo of Kenya will launch her preparations early ahead of London race and shot at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Jeptoo, who injured her knee while running in London in April, has recovered, but opted not to run in New York because she was not fit enough.

But her victory last weekend at the 15km Zeven Heuvelen Loop race in Netherlands where she clocked a course record of 46:56 has given her new imagination ahead of the 2015 season.

"It was a big challenge to me. Having been out for over seven months, I doubted if I had the resilience and endurance to sustain the speed and competition. Thank God, I made it," she said Tuesday in Eldoret.

"It was the first step in my comeback plan and now, I will have more tests but the focus remains to compete at the London Marathon and World Championships."

Jeptoo, 30, is one of season Kenyan women marathon runners and has excelled over the 42km distance in tough courses including New York, Paris, Turin, and London and has a best time of 2:20:1.

"I have started very well in my career. This is a morale booster that will motivate me ahead of the major tests of marathoners," said Jeptoo.

After Beijing World Championships, Jeptoo is certain she will have the stamina to challenge for the medals at the Rio Olympics in 2016 where she plans to upgrade her silver medal to Gold.

"I have started light training for marathon. But I will compete two half marathons before heading to London, where I perform very well. Beijing Worlds and Rio Olympics will be the next targets, which I hope I will get both in my strides," she said.