Kenyan hurdler Rukia Nusra says moving to the United States was a massive step in the advancement of her career, and believes it gives her an impetus in battling to achieve her dream of qualifying to this year’s World Championships and by extension the 2028 Olympic Games.

Nusra, 23, who represented Kenya at both the African Games and the Africa Senior Athletics Championships last year, has recently moved to the University of Akron in the United States, on a sports scholarship.

In an interview with Telecomasia.net, the 100m hurdler says she feels an improvement in her times, especially with the indoor races at the start of the year.

“Already, I feel like I have greatly improved. It is the start of the indoor season and I have been doing the 60m hurdles, and my times have been improving every time. I have been able to run a personal best at every NCAA meet I have gone,” Nusra says in her interview with Telecomasia.

She adds; “This (moving) was really huge because if you compare here and back at home, there is a world of difference especially as far as facilities are concerned. The US is a great country known for its sprinters and coming here has exposed me to so much.”

Nusra targets to attain the qualification time for the World Champs in Tokyo, having missed out last season.

The entry standard for the 2025 World Championships in the Women’s Hurdles is 12.73, while her current PB is 13.67. She believes within the next few months, she has what it takes to save the deficit.