NAIROBI, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Berlin marathon champion Gladys Cherono has warned the woman's only world record set by Kenyan Mary Keitany two years ago of 2:17:01 may be crashed on Sunday.
Speaking in Nairobi, Cherono, who returns to London after finishing fourth in her debut last year, however says there are over five women capable of breaking it and she has not ruled herself out of the race.
"We have information the weather, unlike last year, will be warm and inspiring for fast time. I see that the women's only course record will be broken. However, my main concern is to win the race and should the record fall in my strides, then I will go for it," said Cherono on Thursday.
Last year, the 35-year-old Cherono improved on her personal best time when she clocked 2:18:11 to win in Berlin, her third title in the German capital, which placed her as the sixth fastest time in the history of the marathon.
But even with such fast time, Cherono doesn't stand out as favorite. Defending champion Vivian Cheruiyot has thrown down the gauntlet and said she is keen to improve on her personal best time, which she set in winning London last year at 2:18:31.
"For me, the target is to win the race and run my personal best. I know Chicago champ Brigid Kosgei and Gladys Cherono and Linet Masai, all the other ladies are very strong. I'm running my own race. On Sunday I'm running as Vivian," said Cheruiyot.
Last year, New York marathon champion Mary Keitany made a suicide mission to tackle Paula Radcliffe's world record of 2:15:25. She lost the momentum and slowed almost to a walk as she strained to reach the finish line.
But while she will not be announcing her interest in the world record, Keitany 37 is cautious of the challenge thrown at her.
"Everybody is in good form, that's why they have entered the London marathon. I think each one of us has come to try to win, and I'm in that category. In New York, I ran a faster second half. I don't think I will run the way I did in New York," she said.
With Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba out of the race on maternity leave, Kosgei will be up against Keitany, Cheruiyot, Cherono, and Linet Masai, who is yet to get her marathon career off the blocks. Masai has a best time of 2:23:46 from Amsterdam.
