Virgin London Marathon – World record the goal for Kenyan women

The reigning London Marathon champion Priscah Jeptoo today confirmed she'll go for the women-only marathon world record at this Sunday's Virgin Money London Marathon.

 

The current world record of 2:17:42 was set by Britain's Paula Radcliffe at the 2005 London Marathon. To beat Radcliffe's mark, Jeptoo will need to knock more than two and a half minutes off her current PB of 2:20:14, set at the London Marathon in 2012.

She's ready for the challenge. "My training has gone really well so I'm confident I'll be able to lower my personal best on Sunday and win the race again," said Jeptoo.

The Kenyan runner's recent performances certainly suggest she's in the best shape of her life.

After her victory at the 2013 London Marathon she skipped the World Championships in Moscow, choosing instead to focus on the Great North Run, where she beat a stellar field to set a new half marathon PB of 65:45.

Among the athletes she beat was Tirunesh Dibaba, one of the greatest women distance runners of all time, who finished more than a minute behind in third place.

Dibaba will make her marathon debut on Sunday, but her presence is unlikely to trouble Jeptoo. In fact the 2013 champion believes the strength of the women's field will be a benefit.

"Everyone has trained well and is in great shape this year," she said. "But whenever a race features such a strong field, times improve.

"It won't be easy to break Paula's world record but winning here last year gave me great confidence and I believe that if we all push each other on Sunday, we have a good chance of setting a new world record."

Jeptoo isn't the only Kenyan with her sights on the record though. Double World Champion Edna Kiplagat admitted that breaking the record at the London Marathon would be a dream come true after finishing runner-up in 2012 and 2013.

"There's a really strong women's field this year but if we run at our best I'm confident we will beat the current world record," said Kiplagat.

"I've added more strength and conditioning work to my training so I'm coming into the race feeling stronger than ever.

"I've improved every time I've run in London so I'm full of confidence that I can add the title to my running achievements on Sunday. If I can set a new world record too I will be thrilled."

Florence Kiplagat is another Kenyan feeling confident this year, having won the Berlin marathon for a second time last September and then broken the world half marathon record in Barcelona this February.

The former world cross country champion has failed to make the London podium in her two races here so far, finishing fourth in 2012 and sixth last year after she'd led the race with her two Kenyan colleagues at 25km.

"I feel much better than last year," she said. "I think I've got much better endurance. After winning in Berlin I haven't had a break so this year I am very confident. I think this year I will do better."

As for the world record, Florence Kiplagat is less confident than her compatriots, saying, "With these people in the race, there's too much competition. The record is possible, yes, but not on Sunday – this is something else. This is about winning the race."

 

Source: Virgin London Marathon