Nairobi, Nov 30 (IANS): Reigning World marathon champion Edna Kiplagat is keen to defend her title at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing.

Kiplagat, 35, wants to write new history as the first woman to win the World title three times after she successfully defended her crown in Moscow 2013, having won it first in Daegu, South Korea in 2011, reports Xinhua.

"Of course, the target is to defend my crown. I want to run well next season. But the focus should be on defending my title," she said Saturday.

However, Kiplagat said she will do well in the winter marathons in London to prove her critics wrong and boost her chances of making the Kenya team.

Kiplagat was speaking during the commissioning of a synthetic 400-metre tartan track at Gems Cambridge International School here.

Also present was world 1,500m champion Asbel Kiprop, who also confirmed that he will be ready for his title defence in August 2015.

However, Kiprop, one of the athletes who have been concerned with the influx in doping cases in Kenya (28 now) said more need to be done to curb the vice.

Kiprop said he supports the call for stiffer and longer bans to the athletes found guilty of the offence in a bid to save some reputation for the sport he loves.

There have been allegations and reports that there is widespread doping amongst the country's long distance runners especially after the failed test of top marathoner Rita Jeptoo.

"This needs to be escalated and we see those guilty serving even longer terms out of the sport and make it hard for them to return. This will help because they will be afraid it will end their careers," he said.

"Kenya has lagged behind in other disciplines and the track would bridge the gap," said Kiplagat.

Kiplagat and Kiprop said they are keen to contest for their third titles at the world championships.

"I could not hit my target this year of breaking the 1,500m world record. But I don't do anything for now but wait for my results next season."