Kenyan battle lines to be drawn in 2023 women's London Marathon

World Marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei is hopeful that the 2023 London Marathon will provide an opportunity for her to recover from her previous setbacks with injuries that have come in her way in the past.

Speaking to Lets Run.com after the athlete’s press conference on Friday in London, Kosgei admitted to having dealt with a hamstring scare just weeks to the marathon but she is hopeful it won’t affect the outcomes of her participation in the Sunday morning race.

“I am just from having a week’s rest after suffering a slight hamstring injury that came up some two weeks ago,” Kosgei said. “All the way, my training was going good until two weeks ago when I developed a hamstring injury. I have since had to take a week off to recover and I feel good now.”

Late last year, Kosgei also developed a knee injury that forced her out of the 2022 London marathon - that was won by Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw - and her expectation coming to this year is that with the knee having properly healed in December, her performance will be good.

“I really believe in myself that if I train well, no injury and nothing disturbing my mind, I will reduce my world record,” the 2019 and 2020 London Marathon champion said.

Standing on her way from Kenya will be a familiar face and one that pipped her enroute to winning the 2020 Tokyo Olympics gold medal in Peres Jepchirchir, and her demeanor couldn't have been any better.

“I feel good, my training went well,” Jepchirchir said on Friday. “My body and shape feels good and I am okay now. I thank God that I am healed and ready to go.”

Jepchirchir admitted to having had issues with her ‘disc at the back pressing the nerves’ ahead of her preparations for last year’s New York Marathon - which she missed- and after examinations in Germany, her body couldn’t feel any better ahead of Sunday.

“I began my full training in January and am feeling fine,” the 2022 Boston Marathon champion said.

On the competition coming up, Jepchirchir used the word grateful to refer to the strong field of women athletes preparing to take part in the race while acknowledging the amount of pressure she was under, to extend her marathon winning streak since 2019.

“There is definitely pressure,” she said.

“I prefer these kind of flat and fast courses," Jepchirchir said when asked about her preferences in marathon running.

“Like in Valencia, I set my fastest time there (2:17:16) and for London, it just depends on your preparation and the weather. If it is good then there is a chance to win with a good time.”

Sheila Chepkurui speaks after withdrawing from Boston Marathon

Also in the Kenyan list is World marathon silver medallist Judith Korir and late entry Sheila Chepkirui who missed out on the recently concluded Boston marathon due to visa issues.