Gladys Cherono who recently set a new course record at the Berlin Marathon on Wednesday returned home in a low key reception at the Eldoret International Airport.
Despite praises he received alongside his male counterpart Eliud Kipchoge who set a new world record, only close family members were at the airport to receive the marathon star.
Cherono, who has now won the Berlin Marathon in a record three times, clocked 2 hours, 18 minutes and 11 seconds to break Japanese Mizuki Noguchi’s 13-year-old course record by 61 seconds.
She also improved on her personal best of 2:19:25 set with a victory in 2015 in Berlin.
“I went to the Marathon with my eyes set on the course record and my personal best which I managed to achieve,” Cherono told the press at the airport.
On facing the Ethiopian Olympic Champion Tiruneshi Dibaba in the race, the 2014 World Half Marathon champion said; “I did not fear Dibaba. I was well prepared to face her.”
Cherono’s husband Joseph Kwambok who doubles up as her coach was among the family members that received her at the airport.
“Training for the last three months has been tough, but that’s how it is supposed to be. She had the injury in the past two years but recently she trained well without any complications until the Berlin race,” said Kwambok.
Despite the low key reception, word is that plans are underway for a mega homecoming ceremony for Cherono who hails from Nandi county.
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