Kenya's Janet Ronoh is ready to take over from where her mentor Gladys Cherono left last year as she goes for the gold medal at the Berlin marathon on Sunday.
Ronoh, who has won multiple marathons including the 2011 Hong Kong Marathon, 2013 Cologne Marathon and 2014 Ljubljana Marathon, holds a personal best of 2:26:03 hours and on paper is not the likeliest candidate to win in Berlin, reports Xinhua.
Ethiopia's Aberu Kebede leads the favourite tag having twice won in Berlin (2010, 2012) before finishing second last year behind Kenya's Gladys Cherono.
"I have no doubt of my ability and in every race, it is about strategy and focus. I have done well in training and hopefully, I will have the last say in Berlin against such a strong group of challengers from Ethiopia," she said.
While Cherono has shifted focus from Berlin title defence to New York race in November, Ronoh knows it is down to her to hoist high the Kenyan flag and will not seek a second invitation to deliver the title in the German capital.
"I know my ability and my training has gone well. Now let see what the Ethiopians have," she said.
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But she must be worried of the form that Kebede holds. The Ethiopian is looking to secure her third victory in the Berlin Marathon on Sunday and break the 2:20-barrier for the first time in the process.
--IANS
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