- Hellen Obiri has disclosed that she is ready to represent Kenya in the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
- Obiri won a bronze medal for Kenya in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
- She has acknowledged that it will not be easy for her to get the ticket to represent Kenya in the upcoming World Championships.
Three-time world marathon majors champion Hellen Obiri has stated that she is ready to represent Kenya in the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Obiri, who has already won two world championships titles in her career, disclosed that she will work hard to get a ticket to the event that is scheduled to take place between September 13 and September 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
According to the mother of one, she has to perform well in the upcoming marathons since it is not easy to get a slot in Kenya’s team due to stiff competition.
“For sure. You know, in Kenya you need to be in top shape to be in the team for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. And for me, that is what I am doing.
We have the Boston Marathon. You know it is good to represent your country, I will heed the call,” she stated.
Obiri won her first ever world championships title for Kenya in the 2017 London edition when she produced a remarkable performance to win the 5000m title. The experienced runner then went on to win another 5000m gold medal in Doha two years later.
Besides Obiri, some of the other athletes who may be included in Kenya’s marathon team to Tokyo include the reigning world record holder Ruth Chepngetich, Peres Chepchirchir, Sharon Lokedi and the 2024 New York City Marathon winner Sheila Chepkirui.
Boston Marathon preparations
Meanwhile, Obiri also divulged her plans for the 2025 Boston Marathon where she is aiming to win the prestigious titles three times in a row.
As stated by her, she is expected to train in Kenya for several weeks before relocating to the United States.
“For now, I can say I have less than three months until the Boston Marathon. And, I have already started my training. I needed like 12 weeks of training for the Boston Marathon of which I started officially on Monday. And so far so good, things are also well.
We need to be healthy, focused and injury free. You know injuries usually take someone backwards. For now, I am training here for two and half months before I go to the United States for final touches.
You know, traveling from here, it will be a lot of hours to travel. So, when I will be in the United States it will be a few hours to travel,” explained Obiri.
Should Obiri emerge victorious in the race that is planned to be held on Monday, April 21, she will become the first Kenyan woman to attain that remarkable feat.
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Stiff competition
However, the talented runner knows that she will have to work hard in order to put her name in record books.
“To defend the Boston Marathon three times in a row, it needs extra hard work and for me, when I go for a race I say I am the best. When I say I am the best that means I will work extra hard and I am hoping to be a three time world champion.
When you look at the entries in the women’s field, they are so strong, of which you can’t underrate anybody. We have strong Kenyans, strong Ethiopians and strong Americans, of which everybody will be looking at how Hellen Obiri will perform in her attempt to win the event three consecutive times. So, I am trying to make it happen,” offered the 35-year-old.
Some of the runners Obiri is set to face off in the streets of Boston include the ever-green Edna Kiplagat, Irene Cheptai, and Ethiopia’s Amane Beriso.
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