Africa-Press – Kenya. 2018 Mataram Lombok Marathon champion Tecla Kirongo is targeting a podium finish on her debut at the Sanlam Cape Town Marathon on October 16.
Kirongo said she will be hoping to improve on her personal best time of 2:28:22, clocked while finishing third at the BP Castellon Marathon in February.
She also participated in the 2022 Run Rome The Marathon in March and placed sixth in 2:34:22.
“I want to improve on my time and, hopefully, finish in the top three. After the race in March, I took a break and resumed training in May,” she said, adding that her training has been extensive despite encountering some challenges.
Kirongo hopes the weather on the race day will be favourable now that she is not familiar with the course in Cape Town.
“I have never been to Cape Town. My hope is that the weather will be favourable, considering I have never run in rainy conditions,” she said.
She will be in the company of 2019 Zagrebacki marathon champion Rebecca Korir, Marion Kibor, Judith Cherono, 2018 Košice Peace Marathon champion Raymond Choge, Brian Kipsang and Joshua Kogo.
On Thursday morning, Sanlam Kenya Group CEO Patrick Tumbo promised to support the Kenyan contingent and expressed confidence that they will fly the country’s flag high.
“We shall cater for the athletes’ return tickets, food and accommodation. Personally, I am optimistic that we shall dominate as we always do. We have also partnered with NOC-K and we shall be looking to support as many upcoming athletes as we can,” Tumbo said.
“We shall also look to nurture talent in other sports. We want to make sure all elite athletes in Africa will compete on home soil.”
This year’s marathon marks the ninth edition of the Sanlam Marathon and it is themed ‘African Champions Unite’. It is Africa’s only Gold Label Status Marathon and Abbot World Marathon Major Candidate event.
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