The World 800 meters champion Lilian Odira has hailed the teamwork she shared with compatriots Mary Moraa and Sarah Moraa as the driving force behind her dramatic triumph in yesterday’s final.

Speaking after the race, Odira said careful preparation before the championship laid the foundation for her last-minute surge to victory, a moment she dedicated to her teammates.

“Teamwork was key in us winning the gold medal. We prepared well before the championship. I didn’t know I was going to win, but when the opportunity presented itself, I took it. I am so happy,” said Odira.

The Kenyan star set a championship record and a massive personal best of 1 minute 54.62 seconds, eclipsing by 0.06 seconds the previous mark of 1:54.68 set by Jarmila Kratochvílová of then-Czechoslovakia in Helsinki back in 1983. She credited the record to relentless training in the build-up to the Worlds.

“I am happy to have broken the record. That is something I will treasure for the rest of my life—and I’m hoping to break more,” she added.

Although she hadn’t expected to claim gold, Odira said she will now meet with her coach to map out a plan to sustain her dominance in future competitions.

“We are going to sit down with my coach and plan how we will take this achievement to greater heights in the coming races,” stated the world champion.

Kenya concluded the championships with 11 medals: seven gold, two silver, and two bronze, reaffirming the country’s stature on the global athletics stage.