Making her second trip to compete outside Kenya, Vivian Kosgei Jerotich will be seeking to finish among the top three when she lines up at Sunday’s Verona Marathon.
During her final training on Thursday at the Ndura Sports Complex in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, Jerotich said that her preparations will be key to her best results come Sunday in Italy.
“I want to finish in the top three when I will be running at the Verona half marathon. This is my second race outside Kenya and I want to run very well,” said Jerotich.
She said that when she was invited for the race in December she started training in her preparations for the race.
“I have been training well with my coach Commando (Erick Kimaiyo) at the Kapsait Athletics Camp with hopes of earning the best position. And today being my last day of training, I have covered more than 100km. This week, I started on Monday 17km, Tuesday 20km, Wednesday 17km and today (Thursday) I ran 5km. In all this, it is part of the endurance and gaining speed work ahead of the race,” she said.
Apart from heading for the Verona, she finished second at the inaugural Mwale Medical Technology (MMMT) in December, Iten 15km, Eldoret half marathon, Kirdam Half marathon among others.
Her coach Kimaiyo was very categorical that he doesn’t need a position but good time in a race because good time will earn her a good position.
“If she runs well, she will earn a good position. For my case, I just want her to run her best time possible and with the time, she will get a good position. As of now, I want her to run at least 67:00. I cannot force her to run 65:00 because the journey has just started. She is still young with great ambitions,” said Kimaiyo.
He added that his work is to ensure that all athletes run well and that will make the best out of them.
“I have very many young athletes who want to conquer the world of athletics and as a coach, I am there to guide and give proper direction,” said Kimaiyo.
The camp also hosts former world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei alongside her young sister Pamela, Edward Zakayo, world road running half marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline among others.