NAIROBI, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Chicago marathon champion Bridgit Kosgei of Kenya has left fans dreaming of a possible marathon world record assault when she lines up at the London race in April.
Kosgei, at just 24, said she is only getting off the blocks in marathon career and will want to carve her own niche including setting a world record next season.
Speaking in Eldoret on Thursday, Kosgei said her victory at the Chicago marathon on Oct. 6 has boosted her confidence going into future competitions.
"I am happy to win a major race having come close in London and Berlin. I did my preparations well for the race and struggled with the rest of the team over wait and rainy conditions. The athletes we were competing with were good and they gave me a hard time but I was prepared to tackle them," said Kosgei.
Now Kosgei will focus on strength and recondition as she recovers from the exhausting ordeal in Chicago and promised to return to action early next year with three races on card to select from.
Kosgei, who clocked the sixth fastest time in Chicago of two hours 18 minutes and 35 seconds, believes it is very possible to break Paula Radcliffe's world record of 2:15:25 set in London in 2003.
"Records are set to be broken. It is a bar that any athlete will want to jump over and several Kenyans have made that attempt without success and it is something I want to think about and discuss with my team," she said.
Kosgei has competed in seven marathon and only once has she failed to finish on the podium in Boston last year.
She debut in the 42km distance in Porto marathon and clocked 2:47:59 in 2015. A year later she won in Milan marathon clocking 2:27:45 and improved on her marks in Lisbon (2:24:45), Boston (2:31:48), Chicago (2:20:22) and London (2:20:13).
Kosgei's coach Erick Kimaiyo confirmed that his athlete's next target will be to lower the women's world record next year.
"Despite the rain, what Kosgei achieved is commendable. It was a good job," said Kimaiyo.
"Now we need to sit down and plan her next action, and to attempt to break the world record is important to us in the next season. I know she can lower it," said Kimaiyo.
Also accompanying Kosgei was former two-time world marathon champion Abel Kirui, who was seventh in Chicago and former Chicago marathon winner Florence Kiplagat, a fourth finisher in this year's race.
"It was important for me to test my body. I had an injury in Chicago last year, which denied me the chance to finish the race. I have been out of competition for one year and when I returned, it is good to see that I was fourth. Now want to rest and recovery then I will look at the new season and see where to compete. I want to start early and Tokyo or Boston marathons are in my plans," said Kiplagat.
