Tough Doha test
Tough Doha test

Tough Doha test

The poster-child for Namibian marathon running, Helalia Johannes, will face stiff competition at the IAAF world championships in Doha.
Limba Mupetami
Helalia Johannes will not only experience hot temperatures in Doha, but will also be competing against about 70 top professionals from all over the world when she runs in the women's marathon at the IAAF world champs on Friday.

The runners will set off under floodlights on a looped course along the waterfront of Doha's famous Corniche, which connects Doha Bay and the Doha city centre. Temperatures are expected to drop significantly from the predicted daytime range of 35 degrees Celsius and above.

Johannes has set personal bests this year of 30:59 over 10 kilometres, 1:10:30 for the half-marathon and 2:22:25 for the marathon.

More importantly, she has the experience of running a championship race in searing heat. She won the Commonwealth title in Australia in hot temperatures

Her coach Robert Kaxuxwena says the athlete's secret is that she has rid herself of the fear of running against top Kenyan and Ethiopian athletes. Kaxuxwena said many athletes fear running against the best distance runners in the world, but Johannes has shrugged off this fear, and is blossoming.

“Because of her hard work, she has hit the kind of brilliant form which puts her on that top level; now Kenyan and Ethiopian runners fear her.”

Kaxuxwena says they are eyeing a top-10 finish.

In the past decade, the fastest time for the women's world championship marathon is 2:25:15, recorded by China's Bai Xue in Berlin 10 years ago.

Kenya's Edna Kiplagat approached that speed in taking the 2013 title in Moscow in 2:25:44, having won the previous edition in Daegu in 2:28:43. The last two winning times have been only marginally swifter. Ethiopia's Mare Dibaba ran 2:27.35 in Beijing and Bahrain's Rose Chelimo won in London two years ago in a time of 2:27:11.

Chelimo is defending her title and is one of the favourites. Her teammates are also expected to do well.

Desi Mokonin has a best time of 2:23:39, and significantly, has run 2:23:44 this season.

Shitaye Eshete has run 2:22:39 this year, and Eunice Chumba's best of 2:24:27 is only marginally slower than the defending champion.

Kenya's Ruth Chepngetich (25) won this year's Dubai Marathon in 2:17:08 - the third fastest time ever behind Paula Radcliffe's world record of 2:15:25 and the 2:17:01 run by Kenya's Mary Keitany in winning the 2017 London Marathon.

Kenya's Visiline Jepkesho has run 2:21:37, and 2:22.58, while Edna Kiplagat, who has a best of 2:19:50, is back seeking a third world title at the age of 39.

Ethiopia is represented by Ruti Aga, who has run 2:20:40 this year and has a best of time 2:18:34, and Roza Dereje, who has run 2:20:51 this year, and has a best of 2:19:17.

Shure Demise has run 2:21:05 this season.

-Additional info by the IAAF

LIMBA MUPETAMI

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-23

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