Trailblazing Mary Keitany targets more glory next year
Former World Marathon champion Abel Kirui (right) helps New York Marathon champ Mary Keitany take a sip of mursik. PHOTO | DENNIS LUBANGA | FILE |
What you need to know:
- The 32-year-old intends to reclaim her World Half Marathon record as she prepares to compete at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February next year in the United Arab Emirates.
- Keitany said she hopes to be part of Team Kenya for the World Championships due August next year in China but if not she will opt to defend her New York City Marathon title as well as compete at Boston Marathon.
Kenya’s Mary Keitany has expressed confidence that she will keep getting better after making a successful return from maternity leave with a bang with victory at the New York Marathon on November 2.
The 32-year-old intends to reclaim her World Half Marathon record as she prepares to compete at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February next year in the United Arab Emirates.
The mother of two told nation Sport she has been working hard to ensure she improves on her personal best of 2:18:37 at the London Marathon in April where she plans to capture he third title after her winning exploits in 2011 and 2012.
It’s during the 2011 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon that Keitany set a new world half marathon record after clocking 1:05:50 that stood until February this year when another Kenyan, Florence Kiplagat, shattered it by 38 seconds at the Barcelona Half Marathon, running 1:05:12.
KIPLAGAT TRIUMPHS
Kiplagat also broke Keitany's 20km World Record with a time of 1:01:56 in the race Barcelona race.
Keitany - who ran the third fastest time of all times when she won the 2012 London Marathon in 2:18:37 - also was holds the national record after beating Catherine Ndereba’s winning time of 2:18:47 from the 2001 Chicago Marathon.
“I have taken a break for now but I want to start next year with one half marathon race perhaps at Ras Al Khaimah before the London Marathon,” said Keitany. “After New York where I did 2:25:07 I feel great and I think I can do better.”
Keitany said she hopes to be part of Team Kenya for the World Championships due August next year in China but if not she will opt to defend her New York City Marathon title as well as compete at Boston Marathon.
“My presence in New York will depend if I will go to the World Championships,” said Keitany, who last represented the country at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Despite such a strong showing in London with the third fastest time ever, Keitany was beaten at the finish line. She set a fast pace among the lead pack until 41km, at which point she fell behind to finish fourth in a race won by Tiki Gelana from Ethiopia with Kenya’s Priscah Jeptoo going for silver and Russian Tatyana Arkhipova bronze.
“I should be able to plan well with my manager Gianni Demadonna,” said the athlete, who resides in Iten and trains under coach Gabriele Nicola.
