Chepchirchir, Kimutai return to China eyeing Chongqing Marathon titles

NAIROBI, March 30 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Flomena Chepchirchir has overcome her fitness challenge and will be up to contest for medals at Sunday's Chongqing marathon in China.

Chepchirchir said she has opted to take the Chongqing marathon, which is part of the IAAF gold Label road race, because she has the strength and stamina to take on tougher opponents as she seeks to return to her winning form.

The Kenyan has not raced since May last year when she was sixth at the Prague marathon in the Czech Republic, but believes she has what it takes to secure the gold medal on return to China.

"The selection of Chongqing marathon was intentional. I heard it has a fast and good course and it would be good for me to test how fast I can run against top challengers in China," Chepchirchir said on Saturday.

"It will be hard to everyone, not just me and that is why I have done enough training and pushed my body to the limit."

Chepchirchir's compatriot Marius Kimutai will lead a deep field to Chongqing marathon aiming to attack the 2:09:49 course record in the men's section.

Among the nine participants who ran within two hours and 10 minutes, Kimutai is the fastest on paper with his personal best of 2:05:47 set in Amsterdam in 2016.

"Past times and record mean nothing in the battle in the Chongqing marathon. It only gives you the feeling you can run faster. The real test is in your mental power and the inner strength to work hard and deliver the medal. I hope to overcome the challenges on the course and run a fast time," Kimutai said.

Gebretsadik Abraha could be the biggest challenge to Kimutai. The Ethiopian has an impressively consistent record over the classic distance, running sub-2:10 each year for the past seven seasons. Enditem