Injured Kitata ready to defend London title
Reigning London Marathon champion Shura Kitata has insisted he is ready to defend his crown on Sunday despite being troubled by a hamstring injury.
The Ethiopian edged a sprint finish in the elite men’s race last October to topple the great Eliud Kipchoge, who had won the annual event in England’s capital on four occasions. Kitata could not follow upamaidenLondonMarathon title with success at the Olympics this summer and pulled out in hot and humid conditions in Sapporo.
“I have some slight problems but still I am preparing to win and looking forward to it,” the 25-year-old said. “I was prepared very well before the Olympics and just two weeks before I had a hamstring injury, that was a big pressure for me.OtherwiseIhaveprepared well and I am feeling confident to run on Sunday.
“The hamstring and the painisnotreallyeasyandwhen it is a very fast speed, there might be some problem but I am looking forward to doing what I did before.”
Another sprint finish this year would raise doubts over theEthiopian’sabilitytoclinch the event for a second time but he reflected on the life-changing experience of triumphing over Kipchoge, who bounced backtodefendhisOlympictitle in August.
“I was very happy with the win last year and it had great meaning because Eliud is a very famous runner and a very strong runner so winning meant a lot,” Kitata added.
While Kipchoge will not be in London to try and regain his crown as he recovers following his exploits in Japan,
the 36-year-old will no doubt be watching on from afar and backing countryman Evans Chebet.