Can Werknesh Kidane finally fulfill her marathon potential in Nagoya?

Nagoya, Japan – The 2013 Nagoya Women’s Marathon will be on Sunday (10) and the big question in many people’s minds is: can Ethiopia’s Werknesh Kidane finally fulfil her potential over the classic distance at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race?

Her Marathon personal best may be quite modest at 2:26:15 but Kidane, now 31, is the fastest track runner in the field, having run the 10000m in 30:07.15, the eighth fastest in history, and she won a silver medal at the 2003 IAAF World Championships; in addition to her many medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

In fact, one curious fact is that Kidane is the fastest women’s 10000m runner to run over 26.2 miles in marathon-mad Japan.

Nearly ten years after her Paris success, it also appears Kidane has not lost hardly any of her speed as she was fourth in the London 2012 Olympic Games 10000m with 30:39.38.

Her Marathon debut in 2011 was awaited with much anticipation but in her three marathons so far, all in 2011, Kidane has not cracked 2:26. However, there would appear to be no reason why Kidane cannot run 2:20 or even faster. Read more