Maverick Wanjiru eyes more glory after Tokyo Marathon feat

Newly crowned Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru is not resting on her laurels as she eyes more glory over the 42km distance.

On Sunday, March 5, Wanjiru obliterated a strong field to win the Tokyo Marathon and set a new personal best time of 2:16:28. With the time posted, she now becomes the sixth fastest woman in history.

Ethiopian duo of Tsehay Gemechu and Ashete Bekere settled for second and third places in respective times of 2:16:56 and 2:19:11.

The Berlin Marathon first runners up also noted that she would like to represent the country at the World Championships in Budapest slated for August.

“I am not sure about the race I will be competing in next but I want to do my best there…I want to try more races and break records.

For the World Championships, I hope I will be selected to compete there. If I make Team Kenya, I will definitely want to win. I am looking forward to it very much,” Wanjiru said.

Speaking about her race experience at the Tokyo Marathon, she revealed that she had not expected to win the race but was happy with the achievement.

“I am very happy to compete and win. I did not know that I could win and achieve a new time here…it was unbelievable,” she said.

She added that the spectators were also a source of motivation to her as she was competing.