I think I have a good chance - Praught

BIRMINGHAM, England:

Having made the switch from the 3000m to the 1500m event this season, Jamaican distance runner Aisha Praught is hoping that her move will prove to be rewarding when she competes at the IAAF World Indoor Championships here today.

Praught, who was a finalist in the 3000m at last year's World Championships in London, said that she made the move to 1500m this season because she has been running faster times in the event.

"We planned the entire year to compete in the 3000m and did one indoor race in New York in 3000m, and then I did one indoor race in the 1500m New York, and I ran faster in 1500m than i thought i was going to," said Praught.

"We then started looking at the world list, and we realised that I had the fifth-fastest time in the 1500m, and I was the eight fastest in the 3000m, and so we just thought, let's give it a shot," Praught said.

The 28-year-old Praught, who is aiming to win her first global medal for Jamaica at the championships, is ranked seventh in the world in the 1500m with a time of 7:04.95.

Kenya's Genezebe Dibaba is ranked number one in the world with a time of 3:57.45. Praught admits that she is feeling a bit nervous ahead of the start of today's competition.

"I think the hardest and most nerve-racking thing is making it through to the final in the 1500m, but once I get through the preliminary round, then I think I have a pretty good shot at winning a medal," she said.

The women's 1500m heats will take place at 2:42 p.m. today, with Praught lining up in the first heat.