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Former world 800m champion Eunice Sum wants the country to put more emphasis on the race to ensure continuity in success at the event.

While admitting she is not getting younger, the Moscow 2013 winner says the challenge is for upcoming athletes to be more ruthless in the two-lap race she describes as very tactical.

“We shall be hosting the World U20 Athletics Championships later in the year.

My challenge is that we should make a point of guiding the stars who will emerge from the event, I believe those are the future athletes of the country,” said  Sum.

Sum is currently preparing for July Olympics in Tokyo, Japan but worried Kenya is not formidable in the event despite many still believing 800m is a Kenyan race.

“My desire is to see young athletes transition and taking over from us. By doing that, one can be assured of success in future. It has to be a collective effort from everyone involved.

“ Looking at the last World Championships, it was not a good thing that I was the only female Kenyan athlete in 800m. It doesn’t sound well,” said the 2014 Commonwealth Games champion.