Chicago champ rules out competing at world cross country in Kampala

Florence Kiplagat wins the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2:21:32, Oct 9, 2016 in Chicago, Ill. [Photo/VCG]

NAIROBI - Chicago marathon champion Florence Kiplagat of Kenya has ruled out competing in the World Cross Country Championships next year.

Kiplagat, 29, competed the Iten cross country meet last week and hopes to reclaim the title she last won in Amman, Jordan in 2009 World Cross Country. She said she was not keen to compete in Kampala, in March where the biannual competition will be held.

"I just wanted to feel my body and see how good I am in training and competition. I focus on doing a half marathon in January and then focus on the London Marathon in April," Kiplagat said in Nairobi on Tuesday.

In the 10km senior women, Immaculate Jebet fought hard to overcome stiff challenge in the field that included Chicago marathon winner and world half marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat.

She clocked 31:08.7 for the victory while Nelly Jeptoo came in second in 31:15.0 as Gladys Kimaina timed 31:18.6 in third.

Kiplagat has not competed for Kenya in the last four years, save for her World Half marathon in Copenhagen where she won.

However, her focus is to win the London marathon and boost her prospects of making the Kenya team to the 2017 London World marathon Championships.

"I want to compete in London and win, but it is the World Championships that I really yearn for. I was named in the reserve team for the Rio Olympics, but never made the final three. Now I hope to do well in 2017 and make it to London in August," she said.