Emily Chebet hopes to defend her Eldoret City Marathon women's title when she returns to the race on October 1 in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County.
Speaking in Eldoret during the media launch on Friday afternoon, Chebet said the race had given her a good platform to compete internationally.
She said she is undergoing intensive training to ensure she retains her title in the race that was initially scheduled for last April.
“I thank God for helping me win last year's race. I am now hoping for a repeat performance next month,” said Chebet.
After last year's Eldoret race, Chebet featured in the Milan Marathon, where she placed third in 2:28.08 behind the champion Sharon Chemutai Cherop (2:26.13) and Ethiopia's Ethlemahu Sintayehu (2:26.30).
The 2021 winner, Mercy Kipchumba, who has been nursing an injury said she may be forced to skip the race.
“I started training this year and I don’t know if my coach will allow me to come and reclaim my title. I hope to be fully fit by next month," she said.
Kipchumba won the 2021 edition in 2:28.10 ahead of former world marathon silver medalist Judith Korir (2:28.31) and Jackline Chelal (2:29.47).
“My coach is yet to give me the green light on what next but I am already back in training," she explained.
Race director. Moses Tanui said the race is here to stay and assured athletes that they have secured prize money already.
“I started the race with a purpose and I want it to outlive me. I won the Boston Marathon when it was 100 years old and therefore, we must make sure we leave this race alive,” he said.
