Photo by AYODELE ODUMADE 

BY AYODELE ODUMADE

 Three of the Kenya’s elite female athletes who would be taking part in the London Marathon on Sunday have been speaking ahead of the race.

  Florence Kiplagat is yet to win in London but is twice winner in Berlin and reigning Chicago champion. She was asked if she is in shape and she said: “This year I was late in training. Last year I was in good shape. This year I need to do very well in London.”

With the Olympics looming she was also asked how she would balance that with running on Sunday and she said:

“Sincerely I need to go to the Olympics.  I will make sure I get there despite anything that can happen. For me Rio de Janeiro is my dream.  My desire is to be in the Olympics and Kenya will be selecting after the Olympics.  Hopefully I would be there. I need to be number one in London.”

Priscah Jeptoo was also asked how good her form is and whether it was as good as she would like and she said: “I am happy to be here this year in London. I need to run well on Sunday so that I am selected.” 

Jeptoo won London and New York Marathons in 2013 but last year was 7^th in London and 6^th in New York and was asked why.  She said: “Since I got a serious injury here in London in 2014 it created a lot of problems for me as my shape went down.  But now I am okay and I am trying now to comeback and run close to my personal best on Sunday.”

 Jeptoo has never run under 2hrs 20 seconds, though some and she was asked if this was a source of frustration for her as some of her teammates have. “ I will run according to how my coach wants me to run on Sunday and I will run close to my personal best.”  She said.

Jeptoo won Silver at the Olympics in 2012 and lost by a margin of just 5 seconds, which was the smallest ever margin in an Olympic Marathon. When asked if it kept her awake at night wondering if she could have done more she said: “ It was a surprise to me to win silver. I did not have a lot of experience then but now I do.”

Last year Mary Keitany lost out over the last three miles and came second, nearly winning her third London Marathon. She was asked about her form and said: “ I would like to thank the race organizers for inviting me. I have been training well. I am okay and I am ready for Sunday’s race. Last year I came second but this time around I think I am good enough to win on Sunday and this time around with a fast time. We ran slowly last year.”

When asked if she is happy running with a quick tempo she said: “ Last year my foot was not reacting like the way I wanted it to.  Keitany was fourth at the London 2012 and was asked if that is a source of frustration despite having a baby 7 months later and if it put fire in her belly for Rio later this year. She said: “ I have to run this race first but my dream is to be in this team to represent my country. If I make the team I would like to run good and win a medal for my country.

Mary who has three children was asked if she has had to change anything in the build up to this marathon. : “ I have not had to change anything.”  When asked if joining an elite group who have won the London Marathon three times was a source of motivation she said:” It is my prayer to run well on Sunday. It will be history.”