.jpg)
| |||||||||
|
|||||||||
|
By:
HARRISON MAINA | |||||||||
| Posted:
Apr,19-2017 11:29:07
| |||||||||
|
(Updated Mon April 17) BOSTON__Elite Kenyan marathon runners are itching to reclaim the title they lost to Ethiopia last year when they hit the road tomorrow morning at Hopkinton, up and down Heartbreak Hill and on to the finish line in downtown Boston on Boylston Street at Copley Square.
During an interview with Ajabu Africa from their hotel at Fairmont Copley Plaza, several runners expressed optimism at the prospects. "It's not easy but I will do my best to win the race. We will see what happens," said Caroline Kilel, the 2015 Boston Marathon Champion. First time to compete in Boston, Edna Kiplagat, the 2010 New York Marathon champion, runners up at the 2016 Chicago marathon and winner of the 2011- 2013 World Athletics Championship said that she hopes to extend her winnning ways to Boston in 2017. "I have high hopes that i will win Boston during my first try here. It's a great and historical race so it would feel good to win," said Kiplagat flanked by her two young children accompanying her from Kenya. Other Kenyan elite men former champions including the 2012 winner, Welsley Korir are also in Boston in an effort to regain the glory that has evaded Kenyan male runners for 5 years in a row. However, Kenyan Diaspora half marathon runner, Stephen Sambu clocked in second behind USA's New England native, Ben True during the 5k race held Saturday before the main race on Monday.
"That guy surprised me. He was very competitive and he beat me by 2 seconds to the finish line. I tried my best and I salute the American for the great win," Sambu told Ajabu Africa News. The race starts Monday 9.30am. Kenyan fans are also expected to throng the finish line in big numbers after several years of low attendance following the infamous bomb blast. However, with improved and iron clad security measures instituted by authorities, fans have felt more secure to return to the finish line to cheer on their favorite Kenyan runners. | |||||||||
|
Source:
AJABU AFRICAN NEWS
| |||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
RSS