Shelith Nyawira Muriuki aims to break the Vietnamese marathon record of 2:45:09 when participating in VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon 2023.
"To win a marathon, an athlete needs help from God, but based on my training over the past time, I believe I have a chance to win. Of course, I want to break the Vietnamese national marathon record and believe I can do it in good competition conditions," Muriuki told VnExpress before coming to Vietnam to compete.
Muriuki on the Durban Marathon 2023 course. Photo: Durban Marathon
Coming to running quite late, Muriuki immediately attracted attention in the first marathon she participated in. The runner born in 1984 won the Athens Marathon 2018 with a time of 2 hours 36 minutes 46. After five years of competing in international competitions, she has stood on the podium many times, most recently winning the Kuala Lumpur Marathon last year with a time of 2 hours 44 minutes 16.
When asked about her memorable races, Muriuki said the Gran Canaria Marathon in Spain in 2019 was her best memory, where she set a PR (personal best) of 2 hours 33 minutes.
"I registered for the VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2023 earlier this year. However, my schedule was tight so I had to cancel my plan. I am very excited to meet a new runner community, in a country I have never been to, as well as discover more about Vietnam," said Muriuki.
At the VnExpress Marathon Ho Chi Minh City Midnight 2023, Muriuki's compatriot - Ezekiel Kemboi Omullo - won convincingly in the men's full marathon distance with a time of 2 hours 30 minutes 03. He became the first foreign champion of the VnExpress Marathon. SEA Games champion Nguyen Van Lai once said that the appearance of runners from leading running countries such as Kenya will create momentum for the development of this sport.
Muriuki's most recent achievement was 2 hours 36 minutes 24 at the 2023 Durban Marathon in South Africa. If she replicates this figure, the 39-year-old runner will break the Vietnamese marathon record of 2 hours 45 minutes 09, set by athlete Hoang Thi Thanh (born in 1994) at the 2016 National Athletics Championship.
VnExpress Marathon Sparkling Quy Nhon takes place in the summer with hot weather, which can easily make athletes tired. This year's race will start on June 11, with more than 10,000 athletes. This is the opening race of the VnExpress Marathon system's summer running series.
Quynh Chi
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