Off the wire
• Fire kills 7 kids in Brooklyn, New York  • EU, China should enjoy "thriving relationship": former Swedish PM  • Paris to restrict car use to fight pollution  • Slovakia to contend for post of UN Secretary-General  • Lee Kuan Yew's name-squiggling portrait goes viral  • Iran nuclear talks make "substantial progress", but differences remain: Western powers  • Sudan rebels say likely to free 20 army soldiers  • Feature: Egyptians narrate bitter suffering in turmoil-stricken Libya  • Backgrounder: Global progress on wildlife protection to be reviewed on two summits in Botswana  • Value of Ruble up 13 pct since beginning of 2015: official  
You are here: 　 Home

Jeptoo eyes speed in Lisbon ahead of London Marathon

Xinhua, March 22, 2015 Adjust font size:

With a month to the London Marathon, Priscah Jeptoo is keen to test her endurance and speed against a strong championships as she lines up on Sunday for the Lisbon half Marathon.

Jeptoo, who got injured a year ago and had to remain out of competition for the better part of 2014, will be keen to kick start her 2015 season with victory in the Portuguese capital. She will then face a stiffer competition at the London marathon in April.

"I want to see how my legs will fear on with a strong opposition. I have done enough training and now it is important to see its meaning in a competitive race," she said.

Lisbon Half Marathon is believed to be a fast course event and will be marking its 25th anniversary on March 22.

Jeptoo is the fifth fastest of all-time over the 21km distance, with the 66:11 she ran to win the RAK half marathon in 2013. She has also run 65:45, but on the record ineligible Great North Run course. Her competition in Lisbon includes, Rose Chelimo (68:40), who is unbeaten this season, running a quick 68:53 in Adana.

The home nation will be well represented by Sara Moreira (70:08, 2010) and Ana Dulce Felix (68:33). 2004 Olympic champion Mizuki Noguchi of Japan is also in the field.

The men's course record is also the world record, 58:23 by Zersenay Tadese (Eritrea) in 2010. However, it will be a long shot for Double World and Olympic champion Mo Farah (60:00) who is the star of the men's field, but he is by no means the fastest. That title falls to the ninth fastest of all-time, Stephen Kibet of Kenya (58:54), the winner of the October Lisbon half marathon.

The defending men's champion Bedan Karoki will not be returning as he is on the Kenyan team for the World Cross Country, but last year's runner-up Silas Kipruto (59:39) will toe the start line.

Micah Kogo (59:07) will be another top Kenyan challenger, while world half marathon bronze medalist Guye Adola (59:06), who won the New Delhi half marathon in November, may lead the Ethiopian charge.

Belgium's Bashir Abdi, who missed most of the cross country season due to an injury, will make his debut. Endi