Jepkosgei gears up for New York show

Laikipia Air Base's Hellen Obiri (right) lead followed by Joyceline Jepkosgei of Marsabit Air base in the 10km Senior Women race during the 37th edition of the Kenya Defence Forces Cross Country Championship at Moi Air base on Jan 12, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

World half marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei gears up for New York half marathon on March 17 before making her marathon debut.

Jepkosgei had promised last year that she would step up to full marathon but made an about-turn and decided to have one race before lining up in 42 km show. She will carry her 64.51 world record mark set at 2017 Valencia Half Marathon to the start line.

Yesterday, the Kenya Defence Forces soldier said she will use the American race as a dress rehearsal before making her maiden appearance in full marathon.

“I was scheduled to take part in the Ras Al Khaimah half marathon in the United Arab Emirates next month but was cancelled to ease her preparations for marathon debut. It demands more time and energy,” Jepkosgei said.

She posted an impressive 66:08 mark in her first appearance at Ras Al Khaimah two years ago, which stood out as the seventh fastest time in the race.

Jepkosgei, who became the first woman in history to break 65:00 mark in the half marathon at the 2017 Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon in a stunning 64:52, expects a good race in the US.

She said she has intensified her morning runs from 18km last year to 35km this year in a bid for marathon debut.

“I am yet to know exactly where to make my marathon debut. But I am adjusting my training program to fit the 42km competition,” said the 25-year-old Jepkosgei.

“New York will be helpful for me because the pace might be higher given the strong field invited by the race organizers,” she said.

Last year, Jepkosgei had settled on the third place at Great North Run in UK on September 9,  losing to London Marathon Champion Vivian Cheruiyot and 2018 Chicago Marathon winner Brigid Kosgei.

Jepkosgei kept her stellar 2017 momentum alive in 2017 at the Valencia half marathon taking one second off her own world record to win the IAAF Gold Label road race in 1:04:51 on April 22. She settled for silver at the 2018 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in the Spanish city but on a different course on March 24 last year.