Injury dims Gladys Cherono's Olympic marathon hopes
Kenya's Gladys Cherono celebrates with the Kenyan flag after winning the women's category of the 42nd Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2015. PHOTO | JOHN MACDOUGALL |
What you need to know:
- Kenya is expected to name the final Olympic marathon squad after the London event
- Cherono was one of the favourites to make the women's team having ran the quickest marathon time in the world of 2:19.25 when she won the Berlin marathon last September.
One of Kenya's leading woman marathon runner, Gladys Cherono has been forced to pull out of this month's London Marathon due to injury dashing her hopes of competing in the Rio Olympics.
Cherono, who was one of the favourites tipped to win in her first attempt in London on April 24, picked up a hip injury while in training in Eldoret last month.
It represents heartbreaking news for the 32-year-old Kenyan, who also failed to defend her World Half marathon title in Cardiff, Wales last month.
"I am very disappointed because I was looking forward to going to the London marathon. I was prepared to go there not only to compete, but to try and seek a place in the Kenyan team for the Olympics," Cherono told AFP.
As Kenya is expected to name the final Olympic marathon squad after the London event, Cherono was one of the favourites to make the women's team having ran the quickest marathon time in the world of 2:19.25 when she won the Berlin marathon last September.
In her absence, her training partner and two-time winner, Mary Keitany will lead the Kenyan challenge, that includes 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.
