Tiki Gelana looks to get back to winning ways in Yokohama
More than two years after striking gold at the London 2012 Olympics, Ethiopia’s Tiki Gelana will aim to end a marathon victory drought on Sunday (16) at the Yokohama International Women’s Marathon, an IAAF Silver Label Road Race.
Gelana’s slump can be traced back to a freak accident at the 2013 London Marathon, where she fell and suffered a foot injury after colliding with a wheelchair racer at a drinks station and finished in 16th place.
She followed that by dropping out in the early stages of the marathon at the World Championships in Moscow in August on a day she described as being “too hot”, and then finished ninth at this year’s London Marathon in April in 2:26:58, eight minutes off her personal best.
“I ran those races, but I had pain because of the accident at the London Marathon,” Gelana said through an interpreter during a visit Thursday to Yokohama’s Byobugaura Elementary School with fellow runners Philes Ongori and Marisa Barros. “After London, I ran with only one good leg. Now I can run with full power in both legs, so it’s no problem at all.”
With strong showings in several recent road races, Gelana said she’s ready to be the first to break the tape at the finish in bayfront Yamashita Park.
“I have prepared very much for this race,” said Gelana, whose Ethiopian record of 2:18:58 set when winning the 2012 Rotterdam Marathon puts her fifth on the world all-time list. “Before I had pain in my foot, but I have recovered.”
Read more at: IAAF.org
