Viola Kibiwott, Kenya's Olympic 1,500m medal hopeful who lost her mother last week, is set to leave for Beijing on Saturday with marathoners.

Kenyans had expressed fears that the 2003 world junior 1,500m champion who lost her mother on Friday would withdraw from the team to the Beijing Olympics.

However, head coach, Julius Kirwa, told the Standard newspaper that the runner would travel with the last group of athletes.

"I have spoken to her and she has calmed down. Her mother will be buried on Wednesday and we expect her to travel with coach (David) Letting and the marathoners," Kirwa said.

"She is a medal prospect and we hope she will be strong enough to live to her potential in Beijing," Kirwa added.

Kibiwott, the 2003 world junior 1,500m champion,was due to leave on Monday with most of the athletes for her first Olympics.

Meanwhile, six athletes and two officials are expected to travel to Beijing later in the day. The reserve athletes are Paul Kipsiele Koech (3,000m steeplechase men), Harun Keitany (1,500m men),Rita Sitienei (marathon women) and Leonard Komon (10,000m men).

Source:Xinhua