Kenya: Little-Known Kenyan Trio Plots Upset in Berlin

The soft-spoken athlete, who has been training in Kapsabet, Nandi County added that the elite field looks competitive but she plans to stick with the leading group to finish in a good position.

“The field looks fast especially the Ethiopians but I will stay with the leading group because my target is to finish in a good position and lower my personal best time,” said Chebitok who is under Volare Sports.

Chebitok finished sixth in the 2019 Toronto Marathon where she clocked 2:24:13 and has been training since then waiting for an opportunity to race.

“When the coronavirus pandemic struck, we just stayed at home training to keep fit because there was no race to participate in. I was happy when my management informed me that I will be competing in Berlin,” she revealed.

Chemutai, who has a personal best time of 2:24:27 which she clocked when she finished tenth in last year’s Valencia Marathon, has been training in Kericho and is also eyeing a place in the podium.

She missed the world half marathon record by a second when she won the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon race in 2018 in a time of 64:52.

The other athlete to watch is Chelimo who competed in the London Marathon last year and emerged 11th in a time of 2:29:06.

In the last edition which took place in 2019, Ashete Bekere won in 2:20:14 ahead of her compatriot Mare Dibaba who clocked 2:20:21 while Kenya’s Sally Chepyego settled for third place in 2:21:06.

It was a clean sweep for Ethiopia in the men’s category after Kenenisa Bekele won in 2:01:41, just two seconds outside Eliud Kichoge’s record.

The second place went to Birhanu Legese who clocked 2:02:48 while Sisay Lemma settled for third place in 2:03:36.