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Kenya's Cherono to seek fast time at Berlin Marathon

Xinhua, September 25, 2015 Adjust font size:

World Half Marathon champion Gladys Cherono of Kenya is hopeful she will run under two hours and 20 minutes when she competes at Sunday' s Berlin Marathon.

Cherono, who failed to make the cut to the World Championships in Beijing in August, said on Friday she is ready for the battle of her life as she seeks her first marathon win on the second attempt.

The 32-year-old Kenyan runner clocked 2:20:03, the third fastest time ever for a marathon debut in Dubai earlier this year to take the silver medal.

Now as she is preparing to race in Berlin for the first time, Cherono remains optimistic that she will continue redefining history of marathon running.

"It was a great relief to pull off the performance in Dubai. So many things went through my mind as I was running and in the end, my inexperience cost me the win," she said in Nairobi.

In January, running in Dubai, Cherono was beaten by just one second by Ethiopian Aselefech Mergia on a superb marathon debut, while fellow Kenyan Lucy Kabuu was third in 2:20:21.

"I think I want to run much faster in Berlin. I heard it is a fast course and with everything going right for me, I believe I can improve my personal best to under two hours and 20 minutes," she added.

Although how fast Cherono can ultimately run the 42km marathon will be answered with time, one thing is certain: she is keen to catch up with those ahead of her on the all-time list.

While the focus on Sunday will be on the men' s race for another shot at the World marathon title, Cherono is hopeful her underdog status will help her jump to the leader-board.

Organisers of the Berlin Marathon say leading women contenders are aiming for a sub 2:20 clocking at the fourth World Marathon Major race of 2015. None of the top contenders has achieved this before with the closest of the lot being Cherono.

In recent years, it has been rare for an athlete to place highly in Dubai and Berlin, but Cherono has spoken very confidently about her preparation.

The last time Berlin was won in sub 2:20 was in 2011, when Florence Kiplagat of Kenya was the winner. Endi