Injured Gladys Cherono out of London Marathon

A hip injury has forced Berlin Marathon champion Gladys Cherono to withdraw from this year’s London Marathon due April 24.

However, the 2013 World 10,000m silver medallist wants to be considered for selection in Team Kenya for Rio Olympics, saying she has recovered from the injury sustained a month ago while in training in Eldoret.

Cherono, a corporal with Kenya Defence Forces, was one of the favourites tipped to win in her first attempt in London but sustained the injury that also saw her fail to defend her World Half Marathon title on March 26 in Cardiff.

Athletics Kenya had indicated that it would pick its marathon team for Rio Olympics after London Marathon and Cherono was one of the favourites to make the women’s team by virtue of having ran the quickest marathon time in the world of 2:19.25 when she won the Berlin Marathon last September.

“I will miss the London Marathon but that doesn’t mean I’m out of contention for the Olympics,” said the 32-year-old.

“I’m back in training and my Olympics dream is still alive since there is no more pain. “It was just a stress fracture and doctors have allowed me to start training,” she said. “My training has picked up well and I should hit my peak by end of May.”

In Cherono’s absence, her training partner and two-time winner, Mary Keitany will lead Kenya’s charge that will feature World half marathon record holder, Florence Kiplagat and the 2012 winner, Priscah Jeptoo.

Keitany finished as runner-up last year to Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa, who will also be defending her title.

Kiplagat finished fifth while Jeptoo seventh last year. “My colleagues are strong and one of them should recapture the title for Kenya,” said Cherono.

KIPSANG, KIPCHOGE RENEW RIVALRY

In the men’s race, defending champion Eliud Kipchoge will renew rivalry with the 2014 champion Wilson Kipsang. Kipchoge beat Kipsang, who also holds the 2012 title, by just five seconds in a thrilling sprint finish last year, with fellow Kenyan and World record-holder Dennis Kimetto left trailing in their wake in third place.

Kipchoge’s winning time of 2:04:42 was just outside Kipsang’s course record of 2:04:29 set in 2014. The 2003 world 5000m champion went on to win the Berlin Marathon last September in a personal best of 2:04:00.

Kimetto (2:02:57) also returns to London in 2016 hoping to improve on his third place last year. Stanley Biwott is the fourth outstanding Kenyan in the field, running in London for the fourth time after finishing fourth last year, second in 2014 and eighth in 2013.