NAIROBI, Oct. 2 (Xinhua) -- World 3,000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech said her focus in 2020 will be to break the world record and win gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Chepkoech, 28, finally made amends to clinch a gold at IAAF World Championships in Doha on Tuesday, after she came close in London in 2017 and Rio Games in 2016. In both cases, she was forced to settle for the fourth position.
Last year, she proved her class as she ran a world record time of 8:44.32 in Monaco, but failed to win gold at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
"In Doha, I knew the rest would burn out because I knew I was in top form so I decided to run my own race. I am happy I have finally won after faltering in Rio and London. I now shift my focus on the Tokyo Olympics, where I will also be contesting for gold," Chepkoech said on Wednesday.
With the track season over, Chepkoech will take a deserved break to recoup and have her muscles recover.
However, she believes a world record attempt in 2020 is within her reach and she will not fear to go for it.
"This is my second time under nine minutes this year and I do want to lower my own world record. It is one of my goals next year as I prepare for Tokyo Games," she added.
Chepkoech will have to be wary of her rivals including former champion Emma Coburn of the United States, Uganda's Peruth Chemutai and Bahrain's Winfred Yavi.
"Of course, when you have someone competing close to you, it pushes you and would make it easier to lower the world record. They did not push me in Doha, but in 2020 season, anything is possible," she said.
