After winning a silver medal in the women category at the 28th edition of Silvesterlauf, Rwanda’s middle-distance runner Salome Nyirarukundo has started preparations for the Commonwealth games due April 4-15 in Australia.

According to Nyirarukundo, she will travel to Kenya on January 20 for more intensive preparations.

"I will concentrate on my fitness and gym work while next week, I will go to Kenya for the full preparations ahead of the Commonwealth Games,” Nyirarukundo told Times Sport.

"I need to continue training hard and my target will be to win a medal in commonwealth games and I want qualification for World championship,” she added.

In German, during the Silvesterlauf race, Nyirarukundo finished second in the women’s race after using a total of 15 minutes and 50 seconds behind Germany born Klosterhalfen Konstanze, 20 who won a Gold medal after clocking 15:33’2’ while Melat Yisak Kejeta from Ethiopia clocked 15: 52’ 4.

In May last year, the 20-year-old youngster made history after becoming the first Rwandan female athlete to win the Kigali Peace Half Marathon since the inception of the annual event in 2005.

The APR Athletics Club runner, qualified for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games women 10,000 metres, where the Rutsiro-born athlete debutant finished 27th after clocking 32:07:80.

Nyirarukundo also qualified for 2017 IAAF World Championships held in London in August, finishing 25th despite having an injury.

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