Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir reckons winning the London Marathon on Sunday will be harder than the Paris Olympics due to the field assembled.
The 30-year-old will come up against the world marathon record holder Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, two-time London Marathon champion Brigid Kosgei and two-time Chicago Marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich.
“The field for Sunday’s marathon is strong. There is some tension. I believe winning in London will be tougher than winning in Paris,” Jepchirchir noted.
The seasoned marathoner, however, believes she can win the race in a world record time.
“I will be looking to set a new record this Sunday. I was happy with my performance last year. It will be motivational,” she noted.
Jepchirchir is a previous half marathon record holder with 1:05:16 set during the World Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland.
Last year, Jepchirchir placed third in London clocking 2:18:38. Netherlands Sifan Hassan placed first (2:18:33) with Ethiopia’s Alemu Megertu (2:18:37) sealing the podium finishes.
She also revealed that she is getting back on track after facing injury setbacks in the past that saw her even withdraw from some races.
“I have faced injury problems in the past. I am still strong, keeping up my training and I believe in myself. That is what drives me,” she added.
Last year, the seasoned marathoner injured her calf which saw her withdraw from the New York City Marathon.
She also hopes to make Team Kenya for the Olympics to defend her title.
“I want to be among the three athletes selected to represent Kenya. I look forward to defending my title,” she noted.
Jepchirchir is among six female marathoners selected by Athletics Kenya to undergo training for the Olympics.
Others are Hellen Obiri, Kosgei, Sharon Lokedi, Rosemary Wanjiru and Ruth Chepngetich.
Elsewhere, Assefa believes that she can beat the course record owing to the intensive training she has been undergoing under coach Gemedu Dedefo.
“My training has been good. I have done all that the coach has been instructing me. I am sure I can beat the course record as my other competitors,” she noted.
