Mary Keitany in a past race. She has vowed to break the world marathon record. [Photo/iaaf.org]
Kenyan Marathoner Mary Keitany will use male pacesetters in a bid to break the marathon world record during this year’s edition of the London Virgin Money Marathon on April 22.
Keitany has her eyes focused on breaking the 2 hours, 15 minutes and 25 seconds world female marathon record that is being held at Britain’s Radcliffe.
36-year-old Keitany won last year’s female edition of London Marathon in a time of 2 hours, 17 minutes and 1 second."I know the record was set by Paula Radcliffe on this course in 2003 and that she is a very popular person in Great Britain. But I really hope the London crowds get behind my challenge and can help drive me on to achieve something incredible. By having male pacemakers, I will be able to have the support throughout the race,” Keitany is quoted by bbc.com."The marathon world record is something that I have been working towards for several years and I feel I am now in the position where I can really attack the time of 2:15:25. At last year's London Marathon, I was feeling good but it was hard to run nearly half the race on my own," she added.Keitany is a three-time London marathon winner in 2011, 2012 and 2017.