RIO OLYMPICS TARGET: Florence leads pursuit of winning elusive marathon win

Determination vividly describes Florence Kiplagat’s drive to win the coveted Olympic Games marathon ticket.

She features prominently in the roll of honour in long distance running and a bonus at a World Major Marathon series race.

And with her bristling talent, superstar Kiplagat now longs to go one better at the Olympic Games.

She dramatically ended Kenya’s 16-year-gold wait at the 2009 world cross-country championships in Amman, Jordan, before she won the World Half Marathon title in Nanning, China, in 2011.

She then shattered (twice) the world 21km record at the Barcelona Half Marathon.
She, however, failed to lower her all-time 21km mark of 1:05.09 this year.

In her debut at the Barcelona Half Marathon in 2014, Kiplagat broke her neighbour Mary Keitany’s record of 1:05.50.

Kiplagat, former student of Sergoit Secondary School in Keiyo North, is confident of a good show once Athletics Kenya confirms the marathon squad for the Rio Olympics Games.

“AK sent me an email, which I confirmed before Monday. I am optimistic I will be included in the team. I am in good shape for the games and, if given chance, I will do something special for this nation,” said Kiplagat.

Kenya has never won an Olympics gold in women marathon, but Kiplagat would be keen to break the age-old heartache.

Kiplagat, inspired by her role model and guardian Michael Kiplagat –a former Berlin Marathon winner –seized the opportunity and proved her critics wrong, twice running away with the Berlin Marathon title.

“For a long time, I have suffered injuries and this time round, I am ready for battle.

“I really want to perform well at the Olympics. I am preparing well and I hope attain my dream.

“We have the best athletes. Some of them have run a sub 2:20, while others have won top marathons, so the battle will be not easy,” she said.