Kenya's Wanjiru not worried about London marathon title defence

NAIROBI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- London marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru of Kenya says his training is going on well and he will be ready to defend his title on April 22.

However, Wanjiru will have a small task of gauging his preparedness for the title defence when he lines up in London on March 4 for the The Big Half.

"My training has been great and I will be ready for the April 22 race in London. But for now the focus is on the The Big Half and hopefully, I will prevail," said Wanjiru on Saturday.

Wanjiru will have to face off with Mohammed Farah and his fellow Briton Callum Hawkins while the women's field will have former Kenyan turned Bahrain Rose Chelimo.

"The Big Half will give me clear indication of what I need to do ahead of the London marathon. Wining is not important but to see how I fare on in competitive race," he added.

Indeed Wanjiru's challenge at the April 22 race is tough as he is expected to weather the storm from seasoned athletes, who have been invited to the race. Organizers have announced that Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele of Ethiopia, Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge and Stanley Biwott, Britain's Mo Farah and Ethiopia's Guye Adola to be eyeing the title.

Wanjiru, 25, was the surprise winner last year when he clocked 2:05:48 for victory ahead of Bekele's 2:05:57.

Prior to London, Wanjiru had only won in Amsterdam in 2016 clocking 2:05:21. Enditem