NAIROBI, April 4 (Xinhua) -- World marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei of Kenya says she has run off her inflamed leg which she picked up in training, and will be fit to compete at the Gifu Seiryu Half -Marathon in Japan on April 22.
Jepkosgei, 25, was highly expected to win the World Marathon Championships in Valencia, Spain last month but had to settle for silver , citing pain in her leg after she stepped on a sharp stone two days before the race.
Her manager, Davor Savija, said she had to take anti-inflammatories and ran through the 21km in pain.
"It is now healing and I will be ready to resume normal duty soon. I want to defend my title in Japan and see which other races my management will pick for me to participate," Jepkosgei said on Wednesday from Eldoret.
The Gifu Seiryu Half-Marathon will fall just four weeks after the World Half-marathon Championships in Valencia.
Jepkosgei will face a stiff challenge from Sub-68 runners Eunice Chumba of Bahrain and Joy Kemuma and Valary Jemeli of Kenya.
Others are Karolina Nadolska from Poland, who has run below 70 minutes and Ethiopia's Ftaw Zeray.
The men's champion also returns, although Kenya's Alexander Mutiso is only the fifth quickest in the field. Kenya's James Mwangi is fastest with a 59:07 best time, while James Rungaru and Moses Kurong of Uganda have also run below 60 minutes.
Other Kenyans in the race include Nicholas Kosimbei, Alexander Mutiso, Edward Waweru, Macharia Ndirangu, Joel Mwaura, Patrick Muendo Mwaka, Daniel Muiva Kitonyi and Michael Githae.
Yohei Suzuki leads the Japanese entry list with a 61:53 best in Marugame this year, with Yuki Kawauchi set to make his annual appearance in Gifu just six days after running the Boston Marathon. Enditem
