Keitany aims for Radcliffe ‘world record’ in London

Kawauchi to turn pro

LONDON, April 19, (AFP): Kenya’s Mary Keitany will look to achieve a “lifetime goal” when she tries to topple Paula Radcliffe as the quickest woman ever to run a marathon with a fourth victory in London on Sunday.

Keitany lowered British heroine Radcliffe’s women-only record of two hours, 17 minutes and one second last year.

But the quickest that Radcliffe ever ran a marathon was when she posted a time of 2 hrs 15 mins 25 secs in winning in London in 2003.

However, for much of that marathon Radcliffe was running alongside men, so the time was classified as a “mixed race” women’s world record by the International Association of Athletics Federations, who also recognise a women’s only record.

It is Radcliffe’s ‘mixed’ marathon record that the 36-year-old Keitany is now desperate to beat and she will even have male pacemakers to aid her quest on the streets of London this weekend.

“To run 2:15 is really something else,” Keitany said Wednesday.

“But I will try to follow in the footsteps of the legend, Paula, on Sunday.

“I must thank the race organisers for their decision to assist the women to see how fast we can go. With the male pacemakers we have a great opportunity and we have to try and see if it’s possible.”

Keitany added: “It would mean so much to me because I’ve had Paula’s record in mind since I started my career. She was an inspiration and that world record is still ahead of me as a lifetime goal. As long as I’m running I want to get it.”

But breaking the record is not Keitany’s only goal. Another victory on Sunday would take her past Radcliffe and level with Norway great Ingrid Kristiansen as a four-time winner of the London Marathon.

“Even if I don’t break the world record and I win the race, that would still mean the most to me,” said Keitany.

“Being a champion here is something

Keitany

very special in my life and to win four times would be amazing.

“I don’t feel any pressure for Sunday. I will just run the race and we’ll see what the time is at the end. The most important thing is I have to defend my title.”

TOKYO:

Also:

The Japanese high school clerk who sensationally won the Boston Marathon despite having neither a coach nor a sponsor announced Thursday he was packing in his day job and turning pro.

An overnight media star, Yuki Kawauchi, 31, told reporters waiting for him at Narita Airport: “From April next year, I am thinking about resigning as a civil servant and turning pro. I want to use the (prize) money to do that.”

Kawauchi scooped $150,000 when he became the first Japanese man to win the race since 1987, the year he was born.

His victory stunned the marathon community at the prestigious race in

MARATHON

Boston, where runners braved the coldest start in 30 years in steady rain and hard wind.

By turning professional, he said he wants to compete with the world’s top talents and beat his current personal best time of 2hr 8min 14sec — something he has been unable to achieve over the past five years.

School events, like enrolment ceremonies and graduations, have also prevented him from competing in spring-season races, like in Paris and Rotterdam.

“Unless I change my environment, I won’t be able to best my personal best. As a Japanese runner, I want to compete with top marathon talents from around the world,” he said.

“I saw the Japanese flag flying in the Boston sky. There is nothing like it. I was truly happy. I don’t have words to describe how I felt,” he said.

The prize money should allow him to focus on training for three to four years, said Kawauchi, whose brother is already a professional long-distance runner.

Marathons are hugely popular in Japan, and Kawauchi is well known for juggling his day job with his running passion.

In this file photo, Yuki Kawauchi, of Japan, celebrates after winning the 122nd

Boston Marathon on April 16, in Boston. (AP)