NAIROBI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan legion of champions Mary Keitany, Gladys Cherono, Brigid Kosgei and Vivian Cheruiyot have been urged to run as a team in quest for the world record and title at the London Marathon on April 22.
Marathon coach David Leting believes despite each athlete harboring her own ambitions to clinch the London marathon title, it will help if they stick together in the early stages of the race and support one another.
"It is about each athlete looking out for their won interest. But teamwork in marathon is critical and they will be much better working as a unit and then after the 30km, they can focus on individual strength and tactics to gain the advantage," said the coach.
Keitany, who is the London marathon defending champion, will have three countrywomen to her side for her incredible quest to set a new world record.
After her brilliant women-only world record of 2:17:01 last year, Keitany will start as favorite to win the London Marathon title for a fourth, a feat only the great Norwegian Ingrid Kristiansen has ever achieved.
The 36-year-old Kenyan will attempt to smash Paula Radcliffe's outright marathon world record, set 15 years ago on the London course.
Like Radcliffe, Keitany will run with male pacemakers in her bid to finish inside the Briton's iconic mark of 2:15:25.
"The marathon world record is something I have been working towards for several years and now I feel I can really attack the time of 2:15:25. At last year's London Marathon, I was feeling good but it was hard to run nearly half the race on my own. By having male pacemakers, I will be able to have support throughout the race," said Keitany.
Keitany won't just be racing against the clock, however, for she will again have to overcome Chicago marathon champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia, who chased her to the line 12 months ago to become the third fastest woman in history with 2:17:56.
"Obviously, any world record is contingent on everything being right on the day. London has shown it has the course for world records to be broken and I hope my form and health stay strong and that the weather is kind on the day," she added.
There will also be Mare Dibaba, the 2015 world champion and Olympic bronze medalist, who finished sixth on her London debut in 2016 but dropped out last year after falling behind in the chase to catch Keitany.
Others are Tigist Tufa, Tadelech Bekele, the Amsterdam Marathon champion (2:21:54).