NAIROBI, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's triple Berlin marathon champion Gladys Cherono is focused on clinching her fourth crown in the German capital on Sunday.
Cherono wound up her training on Tuesday and gave a thumbs-up sign that she is ready to take on her rivals as she seeks to cement her name among the Berlin marathon folklore and also boost her chances of making the Kenya team to the Tokyo Olympics.
"The training has gone smooth without any injury scares. However, I must say I am disappointed my teammate Vivian Cheruiyot will not be making the trip because of injury. However, for my case, I am ready to go for another fast time on Sunday in Berlin," said Cherono on Tuesday in Nairobi.
Cherono said that while she would be keen to win a fourth title in the German capital which would make her the sole record winner of the event, her focus is now to improve on her personal best time.
With Cheruiyot out with an Achilles tendon injury, there are still six women on the start list who have run faster than two hours and 22 minutes.
"I am not going for a world record, but to reduce my best time," said Cherono.
After victories in 2015 and 2017, Cherono achieved her third triumph in Berlin last year with a course record of 2:18:11.
The Kenyan may have to run another sub 2:20 to win the title because there is a group of runners who have the potential to achieve such a time as well.
One Ethiopian is on the start list, who has already achieved a sub 2:20 time - Mare Dibaba, who won the world marathon title in 2015 and one year later took the bronze medal at the Rio Olympics, has a personal record of 2:19:52.
There is another prominent Ethiopian athlete on the start list: Meseret Defar is the double Olympic 5,000m champion (2004 and 2012). She has the potential to run much faster than her current PB of 2:23:33.
In the men's race, Felix Kandie, whose best time is two hours, six minutes and three seconds, is the fastest Kenyan on the start list.
He will team up with two fellow countrymen who could be in for a surprise. Kendie will have training partners Abel Kipchumba and Bethwel Yegon pushing him through the Ethiopian wall marshaled by Kenenisa Bekele.
A number of athletes will attempt to achieve the Olympic qualifying times of 2:11:30 and 2:29:30 for men and women respectively on the fast Berlin course. Enditem
