NAIROBI, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Olympic champion Vivian Cheruiyot believes a good performance in Valencia on Sunday will almost guarantee her a slot in the Kenya team for the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Cheruiyot has finally shaken off a recurrent tendon injury, which ruled her out of the Berlin marathon in September. She will lead Kenya's legion to the Valencia marathon, her sixth race on the road, as she intends to push for a faster time.
"I will be running my sixth marathon on December 1 in Valencia. My training has gone on very well and I can feel my body is back in shape. It is not long to go now," Cheruiyot said on Friday in Nairobi.
With victories in London and Frankfurt, Cheruiyot will be pushing for her third win to supplement her collection so far.
"I know next year we have the Olympics and everyone is talking about it. I feel it is good to prove my fitness in Valencia and then see what will happen in 2020 in London or any other race I will run," she said. "The Olympics in August is still way ahead and I want to do my part and let the selectors do theirs."
Cheruiyot will face strong opposition from Ethiopians Roza Dereje and Birhane Dibaba, both of whom have broken the two-hour-20-minute barrier for the distance. Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer, who has clocked 65 minutes 46 seconds for the half marathon, makes her full marathon debut with Ethiopians Roza Dereje (2:19:17) and Birhane Dibaba (2:19:51) also jostling for the title.
The elite men's field includes 19 runners who have hit the two hours and 10 minutes mark. The men's race features reigning champion Leul Gebrselassie (2:04:02) who is the third fastest in the line-up behind his Ethiopian teammates Getaneh Molla (2:03:34) and Herpasa Negesa (2:03:40).
Other notable entrants include former London Marathon winner Tsegaye Kebede from Ethiopia (2:04:38), former world champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie (2:07:48) and leading Europeans Kaan Kigen Ozbilen from Turkey (2:05:27) and Norway's Sondre Nordstad Moen (2:05:48).
Kenya Augustine Choge will be making his second showing in the marathon after his debut in Chicago in 2017 ended up a disaster as he limped off with an injury. Choge was part of the pacesetters for training mate Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge during the INEOS 1:59 Challenge in Vienna in October.
Choge, who ran 59:26 for the half last year, recently pulled out of his scheduled appearance at the Chicago Marathon.
"Chicago was a big disappointment, as I believed I was in shape to run under 2:07. I hope we will have good weather in Valencia. It is my ambition one day to step into Eliud's shoes and be a great marathon runner. Anything is possible in sport," said Choge.
