NAIROBI, Dec. 21 (Xinhua) -- Boston marathon champion Edna Kiplagat believes age will not be a deterrence to her when she lines up to defend her title in April on return to USA.

At 38, Kiplagat is edging closer to the cliff of marathon running, but she has refused to throw in the towel saying she still feels strong and is keen to retain the title in Boston and boost her chance of winning the fourth World Marathon Majors (WMM) having been crowned this year's winner with 41 points. The WMM trophy comes with US Dollars 500,000 to bout.

Kiplagat has since cut short her holidays and has started light training in readiness for the Boston marathon in April. She said she will run two short races in February and March to gauge herself. However, she ruled out competing in cross country.

"I am taking easy cross country training in readiness for the next season. Holidays are almost over and there is a lot of activities that I need to do to have the right form," she said on Thursday in Eldoret.

After winning in Boston in April, Kiplagat returned to the World Championships for the fourth time and secured the silver medal for Kenya. She is the second athlete in history to win two gold medals and a silver at the championships. She recently closed the 2017 race season with a strong fourth-place finish at the New York City Marathon.

"I am so happy to accept the invitation to return to Boston next year as the defending champion of this historic race," said Kiplagat. "After racing all around the world, it was so special for me to run on Boston's historic course and experience the Boston traditions with my family. I look forward to the challenge next April racing against the world's best athletes."

On Tuesday, Kiplagat was confirmed as winner of the World Marathon Majors series 10. The announcement follows the completion of the investigation process for Jemima Sumgong, who has been banned for four years after testing positive for EPO. Kiplagat scored 41 points, boosted by her win in the Boston Marathon last spring.