Chumba sets focus on shattering Beirut Marathon course record
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E-mail Xinhua, November 2, 2017
Kenya based Bahraini Eunice Chumba will be odds on favorite to challenge the Beirut Marathon course record on Nov 12.
The 24-year-old Kenyan, who now represents Bahrain, ran a strong personal best time of 2:24:27 in Rotterdam on April 9 to finish second and was the winner at the Copenhagen Half Marathon where she knocked almost two minutes off her personal best setting an Asian record of 1:06:11.
Two weeks ago she shocked most prognosticators with a victory at the Lisbon Half Marathon with a time of 1:08:48.
Now all focus will be on the Beirut course time of 2:29:12 set by Mulahabt Tsega of Ethiopia and the accompanying bonus is ripe for the picking.
"I'm ready for it," Chumba said with confidence. "It is my first time in Beirut. I don't know much about it. I just googled Beirut Marathon and learned more, like the course record time. It depends on weather conditions but my aim is to break the course record."
The winner receives 10,000 U.S. dollars but if the finishing time is under 2:28:00 that prize goes up to 15,000 dollars.
Last year's champion Tigist Girma has already confirmed she will be back in the Lebanese capital to defend her title.
This matchup should prove interesting as Chumba is clearly a tougher opponent than the Ethiopian has faced before. "I was born in the village of Septonok in Nandi," says Chumba.
"But since August 2014 I have represented Bahrain. My father inspired me to run, he was a runner too. He usually encouraged me. For example he used to tell me about (Olympic champion) Eliud Kipchoge and Prisca Jeptoo (a past London and New York winner) because they lived near our village. Because I come from a family where my parents are farmers I hoped one day I would become successful and help my family."
Although she runs for Bahrain much of her training is completed in Eldoret, Kenya, with her husband and some pacemakers under the watchful eye of coach Nicholas Kipkemoi Kirwa.
With time on her side and many more years of running Chumba hopes one day to be ranked amongst the greatest marathoners of all time.
"My target is to run the world record in the half marathon and the marathon," she says of her ultimate goals. For now she will be content with a victory in Beirut to add to her already impressive curriculum vitae.
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