NAIROBI, Nov. 1 (Xinhua) -- Champion Mary Keitany says she is under no pressure even as she seeks to write history by striking two birds with one stone in New York marathon on Sunday.
Keitany, 37, is not getting any younger and believes she has another chance to cement her name in the race's folklore.
She is aiming for an unprecedented fifth race win and also the course record of 2:22:31 that has remained off the limit for 16 years since compatriot Margaret Okayo posted it in 2003.
In her dash to the finish line last year, Keitany missed out by only 17 seconds to beat the course record as she held out Vivian Cheruiyot to win the gold. Her time was 2:22:48.
"The training back home was good and it went according to plan. I haven't changed much about how I prepared last year. There is no problem for me and all I need it to focus and let my legs do the talking," Keitany said on Friday. "I am ready to tackle my race."
With a foot injury forcing Boston Marathon champion Worknesh Degefa to drop from the race, it does not however, get any easier for Keitany as she has to face off against Tokyo marathon champion Ethiopian Ruti Aga, debutant Joyciline Jepkosgei, who is the World half marathon record holder, Nancy Kiprop, who is coming off a 2:22:12 run in winning in Vienna, Austria in April and Mary Ngugi Wacera.
Should Jepkosgei win in New York, she will be the second woman to do so since Tegla Loroupe in 1994.
"I know I made my first show in a marathon in London and was not that lucky. That is why I want to treat New York as another debut in the marathon. I was in New York in March and was strong to win the half marathon race. It was a great half marathon to see how my body feels," Jepkosgei said on Monday.
In the men's race, reigning champions Lelisa Desisa from Ethiopia will defend his title, one month after winning the sweltering Doha heat at the World Championships.
Desisa faces last year's runner-up and teammate Shura Kitata and world half marathon record-holder Geoffrey Kamworor from Kenya who won this race in 2017 and was third last year.
Other notable entrants include Ethiopia's Tamirat Tola, the fastest in the elite men's field with a 2:04:06 personal best time and Houston and Ottawa Marathon winner Albert Korir from Kenya.
