World 800 meters women champion Janeth Jepkosgey left Kenya on Saturday night for China to take part in the ongoing Beijing Olympic Games.

Jepkosgey who will once again face off with rival and compatriot Pamela Jelimo at the Olympics, promised Kenyans a medal as she jetted out of the country along with 1,500 meters runners, 19-year-old Asbel Kiprop and 20-year-old Augustine Choge.

"Kenyans should pray for me. I can't say what I will win but I know for sure that I must win at least a medal," said Jepkosgey who may have lost four times to the 18 year-old village mate Jelimo.

Jepkosgei became the first Kenyan woman to win a global title at a distance below 10,000m at the World Championships in Osaka.

So, while admitting that it is "a bit disturbing" to see Jelimo so far ahead, Jepkosgei is working to a plan. "Everybody runs their own race - mine is to be in Beijing in better shape," she said.

The key to who prevails in Beijing may be in whether Jelimo can sustain a long season, which began in April, with the trials for the African Championships.

Whatever the outcome, the two will remain on social terms. "She is a good friend of mine," Jepkosgei said. "She is still young, so I think she will get more advice from me.

"Since last year I came to know her and she was doing the 400m in the juniors. We come from the same area (Kapsabet) so I really took her aside and told her she can run 800."

Meanwhile, the government said it would increase cash prizes for Kenya's Olympic team in Beijing.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports Kinuthia Murugu said the added support means that any Kenyan who wins gold medal shillings, while those who clinch the medal for third place will receive 580,000 shillings.

"Several companies have come out including Nakumatt, Safaricom and America East Africa Corporation to supplement the government's efforts so that the athletes get some substantial prizes," said Murugu.

The cash promise, Murugu added, would boost President Mwai Kibaki's announcement last month of an increment in monetary decoration for top athletes.

The President had said that each Kenyan athlete will receive a cash prize of 750,000 shillings forwinning a gold medal, 500,000 shillings for silver and 250,000 shillings for a bronze medal.

The Kenyan leader said that the reward was intended to encourage the sportsmen and women to continue

"The government wants to recognize and give rewards to medal winners, for the hard work of thesportsmen and women," Murugu said.

Source:Xinhua