NAIROBI, May 20 (Xinhua) -- Reigning 5,000m world champion Hellen Obiri believes it will be tougher for her as she returns to the Diamond League meeting in Stockholm on May 30.
The Olympic silver medalist, 29, has only experienced victory this season claiming the World Cross Country title and storming to 3000m victory at the recent Doha Diamond League, as well as the Great Manchester 10km run this month.
Now as she turns her focus to fully concentrate on the track competition, Obiri is relishing the challenge of returning to her traditional 5,000m race in Stockholm on May 30.
"It was nice racing and winning in Manchester. I knew I was in good form - winning the World Cross and a Diamond League - so I tried my best to be at the level I want to be. I have to maintain it at that top level to the end and win at the World Championships," said Obiri on Monday in Nairobi.
"It was my first run at the Great Manchester run 10k and I got the win in 31:23. The Diamond League season is underway and it was nice to take victory in the stadium which will host the World Championships later this year in Doha. I already look forward to return to Doha and defend the title," she added.
Obiri plans to shift from the track to road race with an eye to venturing to marathon distance. She believes her experience in Manchester, where she beat Tokyo Marathon champion Ruti Aga and Boston Marathon silver medalist Edna Kiplagat, albeit at shorter distance will give her confidence going forward.
"I'm almost done with the track so I think I need to do final, final things. I have never done 10,000m on the track so I wanted to do it before I go to the roads, maybe from next year after the Olympics. I will do 10km and the half-marathon from there and then maybe (move up to the marathon) in the coming years," said Obiri.
In the world championships, Obiri is targetting a double in both her specialty 5,000m and the 10,000m race. But she faces a major challenge to win at the explosive Kenya trials in Nairobi to earn her place in both events.
"My main target is to retain my title and then most probably I will focus on the double - 5000m and 10,000m," she added.
Obiri started off running the shorter 1,500m race and moved up to 5,000 after becoming a mother and missing the Beijing World Championships in 2015.
Now she hopes her intended move up to the road races and the marathon will not have any hitches.
