Former World Under 20 champion Purity Chepkirui says being a bread-winner in her family has motivated her to work hard in school and on track.

The Form Two student at Tiloa Secondary School added that she will work to maintain her winning streak as she transitions into the senior category races next year.

Chepkirui,19, who is also the Africa 1,500m silver medallist said that the senior title accolade will help her as she aims to excel in her speciality.

“If you’re the breadwinner of your family, you have to do a lot of things your age mates don’t. I pay my school fees and those of my siblings, I take care of other bills. I also bought land for my single mother and I am planning to build her a house,” disclosed Chepkirui who hails from Tiloa village in Kuresoi North, Nakuru County.

Africa Senior Championships in Mauritius were very important to her in many aspects. The Mauritius event was her first international outing and she was excited about her performance. “It was my first time to board a plane and it was exciting, though I had a lot of fear when the aircraft was taking off, I later enjoyed it,” said Chepkirui, who is also the Memorial Agnes Tirop Cross Country junior 6km champion.

Board planes

She could later board another plane to the World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Colombia from August 1-6 and back home after claiming a bronze medal.

“There will be more opportunities to go out of the country, board planes to go and compete.

This will be the new norm,” added Chepkirui who went against all odds and bagged a gold medal in her debut during World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi last year.

“It’s now time for me to transition to the seniors and I hope I will maintain my performance,” she said.

At the just-concluded World Under 20 Championships in Cali, Chepkirui settled for bronze in her 1,500m speciality in a new personal best time of 4:07.64.

“I am happy to have achieved my PB but I still want to improve it. That is my focus now,” Chepkirui added.

She looks up to Double Olympics and World 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon who hails from Keringet in Kuresoi South near her home.