NAIROBI, Kenya: June 19 (Xinhua) — Olympic 800m silver medallist Janeth Jepkosgei’s crave for gold in the London Olympics may not come to be due to a tendon injury, which she suffered in Rome Diamond League at the end of May.
“I picked up a tendon injury which has been giving me sleepless nights. But it is improving and I hope it will have cleared by the time we head to London Olympics,” she said.
“I say that because, I have already talked to Athletics Kenya to notify them of my form and injury status and they asked me to come to the national trials and just compete. I do not need to win that race on Saturday,” Jepkosgei told Xinhua.
Speaking to Xinhua on Tuesday at her training base in Eldoret, Jepkosgei said she has been working on the injury adding that is now looking better. Only three slots are up for grabs in the Kenya team and Jepkosgei is alive to the challenge from Jelimo, training mate Eunice Sum, former World Junior champions Lydia Wafula, Winnie Chebet and Cherono Koech.
The 29-year-old Jepkosgei has been dominant in the two-lap race since her emergence as a senior in 2006 in Melbourne, Australia to end the reign of Maria Mutola of Mozambique. She was second in Beijing Olympics four years ago to compatriot Pamela Jelimo.
Now she faces the same challenge in her quest to qualify for the Kenya team to the London Games. Unlike the other years, where Jepkosgei has struggled to get her form in the build-up to the competition, this year, she is enjoying her cruise having been second in Doha Diamond League meeting and winner in Hengelo Grand Prix meeting clocking a season best time of 1:57.79.
“I have never been this good in the build up before. It is an indication that I will do well. It motivates me and I want to run well in London,” she said. “I have been around for such a long time and though I had indicated that I would be going up to the 1,500m distance, I have to say that am contended with the 800m race for the time being,” she added.
“Maybe in Moscow in 2013 World Championships, I will think of the four lap race. But ahead of the Olympics it is only one race and that is 800m,” she said.
The Africa 800m silver medalist, however, believes she has done her best and given all to her country in the six years she has been running at the top.
“I have nothing left to prove. I have competed at the highest level and delivered the medals. But I still need that gold and if it comes in London, then so be it,” she said.
Jelimo hosts a personal best time of 1:56.04, which she set in Osaka in 2007. The only other time she came close to that was in Beijing when she wound up second behind Jelimo in 1:56.07. (Xinhua)
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