NAIROBI, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Africa's 1,500m champion Winny Chebet from Kenya will compete at the Rome Diamond League meeting in Italy on Thursday keen to stamp her authority over the miler race.
Chebet, 28, launched her campaign this season in China with two races in Shanghai Diamond League and at the Nanjing World Challenge.
However, she did not dominate the races. She was seventh in Shanghai clocking 4:02.94 while in Nanjing she came in fifth at 4:02.84.
But she hopes to turn that to her advantage when she leads Kenya charge to the Roman contest.
"Rome will provide a good test on the progress I have made so far. I have increased my training and I can confidently say I'm prepared for the race. I'm also happy that I have no injury concerns," said Chebet on Monday in Nairobi.
"My body has responded very well to training. Initially, I had a stiff back, but I feel much better now and relaxed," Chebet added.
"The Diamond League also provides me with the chance to build momentum heading into the World Championships, which I am really eager to take part in," she said.
Chebet will team up with compatriot Emily Cherotich. However, the duo will have to be at their best if they are to challenge 5,000m world record holder Genzebe Dibaba, who won the Olympic silver medal in Rio de Janeiro and the world title in Beijing 2015.
There will also be European champion Laura Muir in a re-match of last year's IAAF World Indoor Championships in Birmingham, where Dibaba won the gold medal ahead of the Scottish runner.
The world-class field also features Olympic bronze medalist Jenny Simpson from the United States, who won in Rome over this distance four years ago, Gudaf Tsegay, Habitam Alemu and Axumawit Embaye all of Ethiopia and Morocco's Rababe Arafi.
