Kenya's RAK Half Marathon bronze medallist Cynthia Limo has pulled out of the Boston marathon to be held on April 20.
Limo, who has a half marathon personal best of 1:07:02 minutes, was to make her debut over the full marathon distance in Boston. But a back injury she sustained in training has cut her ambitious progress in the 42km distance, reports Xinhua.
Limo will now have to bide her time and plan her debut over the 42km distance in September.
"It is a drawback for me. But I will be able to return, and hopefully defeat my own fears over running the full marathon," the veteran half marathon runner said in a statement on Wednesday.
In another statement, organisers of the Boston Marathon confirmed several withdrawals from the race alongside Limo.
Ethiopia's Mamitu Daska, winner in Frankfurt in 2011, is also out after she picked up an injury during the recent Guiyang World Cross Country Championships.
Marisa Barros of Portugal, who has a knee injury, and Abderrahime Bouramdane of Morocco, who has a hamstring injury, will also miss the race in Boston.
Added to the women's field for the marathon is world junior record holder Shure Demise Ware of Ethiopia, who ran her record breaking 2:20:59 at the 2015 Dubai Marathon.
Honolulu Marathon champion and African 10,000m champion Joyce Chepkirui will be the athlete to watch as she runs her second marathon.
