Kenyan marathon stars chase gold in London

iIN LONDON

Kenyans will be banking on the men’s and women’s marathon teams today for more medals when the two races are competed on the streets of London.

The men’s team has London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru, Boston Marathon winner Geoffrey Kirui and 2016 Mumbai Marathon titlist Gideon Kipketer, who have all never competed in any championship marathons before.

Wanjiru will be running on the London streets for the second time this year after sensationally winning the Virgin Money London Marathon on his debut last April and will be taking the advantage of the warmth of the fans that pushed him to the tape.

Wanjiru said that he is ready for Sunday’s race and he will be looking forward to teamwork in the race for better performance.

“We are ready for the race and our hope is to bag all the medals on offer. The marathon race is tough and we hope the training that we did will help us overcome the stiff competition,” said Wanjiru.

His team mate Kirui said he is happy to have been included in the team for the championships where he says little experience will not deny them medals.

STIFF COMPETITION

“I was happy to be named in the marathon team and being our first time, we want to give our best today so that we can bring home the medals,” said Kirui.

He added that they have talked as team mates and will be looking forward to a tactical race to beat off the stiff competition from the Ethiopians and Eritreans.

“We have talked as a team and we hope this will help us beat the stiff competition from the Ethiopians and Eritreans. My time could be slower than (Ethiopia’s Tamirat) Tola’s but we will run the race to win,” said Kirui.

The soft-speaking Kipketer says that he is up to the task and after the 35km mark, the best athlete will be known.

“It will be a hard race given that everybody trained well but my prayer is that we take all the medals on offer if possible. We don’t want to fear the Ethiopians because we trained well,” said Kipketer, who was third in the Chicago Marathon last year.

The women’s team will comprise of Boston Marathon champion and former two-time world champion Edna Kiplagat, world silver medallist Hela Kiprop and Commonwealth Games winner Flomena Cheyech.

Kiplagat is banking on her experience on her previous races in London where she has been able to record mixed results, although Sunday’s course will be a little different from what she is used to. She said teamwork is what they will try to use to beat the stiff competition, especially the Ethiopians.

“It’s a tactical race and without the pacemakers, we need to put our best,” said Kiplagat.

Cheyech said that they will make sure they put their best effort to grab the title from Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba.

TOUGH BATTLE

“We trained well knowing that the battle ahead is tough. We will run well so that we can reclaim the title that is being held by Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia,” said Cheyech.

Kiprop is also hoping to step up from the silver medal that she won in Beijing, China in 2015, although she said it will not be easy.

“It is a hard race but my prayer is for Team Kenya to do well so that we can bring home the title. Personally, I’m eyeing a gold medal since I already have a silver medal,” said Kiprop.