NAIROBI, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Mary Keitany is looking to rewrite history when she lines up at the London Marathon on April 26, eyeing her fourth title in five appearances.
Keitany has won London Marathon titles and four New York City crowns, and will be keen to reassure her fans that last year's race, which saw compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot clinch the winner's medal, was merely a blip.
A quest to push harder for a fast time to challenge the all-time world record mark of 2:12:25 was to blame in last year's London event, as she ended up slowing down in the final 10km to enable Cheruiyot move past her to win the title. Keitany says she is keen to reclaim her crown in London in April.
"I will be back. I was disappointed not to defend my title last year. I will be running in London," Keitany said Friday in Iten.
"Last year I was feeling good but I paid the price of pushing too hard too early. I rushed at the beginning to suffer at the end. I was really tired at the finish."
The 37-year-old Kenyan is already the holder of the women-only marathon world record, which she set by winning the 2017 London Marathon in 2:17:01. In doing so, Keitany beat Paula Radcliffe's previous mark of 2:17:42.
"London has shown it has the course for world records to be broken. But my target is to run fast and win the race," she added.
