Former African Games 5000m silver medalist Rosemary Wanjiru will be seeking to start her marathon career on a high when she lines up for her debut at the Berlin Marathon on September 25.
Wanjiru, who trains in Iten, is smarting from victory at the Boilermaker 15km race in the USA.
“Making that marathon debut is every athlete's achievement and I am heading there to run my heart out. I used the Boilermaker race to gauge my preparedness — speed and endurance — ahead of the Berlin Marathon,” said Wanjiru
“I know competing in my first World Marathon Majors race will not be easy. I have, therefore prepared well for it and above all, grateful that I was invited to rub shoulders with some great marathon runners,” she said.
Wanjiru, who looks up to women's only world record holder Mary Keitany, revealed how she immediately started training for the race upon receiving the invitation, covering not less than 30km a day.
“I look up to Keitany as my mentor due to her consistent running career and good performances," said Wanjiru, adding that she has not yet quit the track.
Berlin Marathon entry list
Elite men
Eliud Kipchoge (KEN) -2:01:39
Guye Adola (ETH) – 2:03:46
Girmay Ghebreslassie (ERI) 2:05:34
Dejene Debela (ETH)- 2:05:46
Mark Korir (KEN) 2:05:49
Oqbe Kibrom (ERI) 2:05.53
Ashenafi Moges (ETH) 2:06:12
Tadu Abate (ETH) 2:06:13
Bethwel Yegon (KEN) 2:06:14
Anweth habte (ERI) 2:06:25
Ryu Takaku (JPN) 2:06:45
Limenih Getachew (ETH) 2:06:47
Hiroto Inoue (JPN) 2:06:47)
Alex Kibet (KEN) 2:07:09
Zablon Chumba (KEN) 2:07.18
Kenya Sonota (JPN) 2:07.23
Kento Kikutan (JPN) 2:07.26
Kazuki Muramoto (JPN) 2:07:36
Tadash Isshiki (JPN) 2:07:39
Atsumi Ashiwa (JPN) 2:07:54
Daisuke Doi (JPN) 2:08:13
Rintaro takeda (JPN) 2:08:48
Yuki Matsumura (JPN) 2:09:01
Byambajay tseveenravdan (MGL) 2:09:03
Tatsuya Maruyama (JPN) 2:09:36
Abel Kipchumba (KEN) 2:09:39
Andamlak Belihu (ETH) 2:09:43
Stephen Scullion (IRE) 2:09:49
Peter Herzog (AUT) 2:10:06
Haftom Weldaj (GER) 2:13:47
Frank Shauer (GER) 2:14:43
Erik Hille (GER) 2:15:04
Elite women
Keira d’Amato (USA) 2:19:12
Nancy Jelagat Meto (KEN) 2:19:31
Gutemi Shone Imana (ETH) 2:20:11
Maurine Chepkemoi (KEN) 2:20:18
Worknesh Edesa (ETH) 2:20:24
Sarah Hall (USA) 2:20:32
Sisay Gola (ETH) 2:20:50
Vibian Chepkirui (KEN) 2:20:59
Tigist Abayechew (ETH) 2:22:45
Bekelech Gudeta (ETH) 2:22:56
Sayaka Sato (JPN) 2:23:27
Risper Chebet (UGA) 2:23:45
Yukari Abe (JPN) 2:24:02
Meseret Belete (ETH) 2:24:25
Lisa Weightman (AUS) 2:25:15
Natasha Wodak (CAN) 2:26:19
Kanako Takemoto (JPN) 2:26:23
Sonia Samuels (GBR) 2:28:04
Tigist Assefa (ETH) 2:34:01
Rosemary Wanjiru (KEN) Debut
Nigst Haftu (ETH) Debut
Katja Fischer (GBR) 2:42:39.