•Cherono will come up against an elite cast that includes former world half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor
•He is careful not to pick out any particular threat from among his competitors
•He is also careful not to crown himself as world record holder Eliud Kipchoge's heir-apparent
Image: REUTERS
The 2019 Boston Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono says he is not worried about the tough course in the American city ahead of Monday's race.
Cherono, who timed 2:07:57 to beat the tape three years ago, said he has been training as usual with minimal worries over what awaits him.
"It has been a preparation like I have always done and not because the Boston course is tough. I have not done anything special in training to overcome the course. I treat every race with the seriousness it deserves," the two-time Amsterdam Marathon champion said.
He will come up against a star-studded cast that includes former world half marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor, 2017 Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui, defending champion Benson Kipruto and two-time champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia.
However, Cherono is careful not to pick out any particular threat from among his competitors, preferring to remain modest in his expectations.
"Everyone is a tough opponent...it would be unfair to label others as a bigger threat than the rest. Even a debutant is a favourite. The secret is to plan strategically for your race rather than worrying about what your competitors will do," he said.
The 2019 Chicago Marathon champion added: "Boston is a big race and anyone invited to compete has to be a good runner. All of us are equal and it would be catastrophic to underrate anyone."
Cherono's in-tray for 2022 also includes an appearance at the World Championship in Oregon, where he will lead the men's marathon team, alongside Kamworor, Barnabas Kiptum with Kirui as stand-by.
Nonetheless, Cherono says it is too early to start talking about strategies to win gold in the homeland of American athletics.
"We will cross that bridge when we get there. The focus, for now, is on Boston after which we will start preparing for the World Championship. It is all about planning strategically," he said.
Cherono, who timed 2:03:04 at the 2020 Valencia Marathon champion to become the eighth fastest marathoner, has been billed as one of world record holder Eliud Kipchoge's heir-apparent.
However, the 2016 Prague Marathon champion said this is not cast in stone. "I don't think so (inheriting Kipchoge's mantle). There are so many talented athletes who may rise up to match up to his feats. Marathon is quite an unpredictable race and a lot can change in a few years as far as the leading athletes are concerned," the 2020 Valencia Marathon champion said.
He added: "I just try to enjoy every race, pick lessons from it and move on to the next one. There's the Shanghai Marathon in 2016 where I finished seventh but enjoyed it regardless."