Niluka aiming for her personal best in Beijing
While Kenyan and Ethiopian marathoners are set to dominate an evenly-matched field on Sunday in search of the marathon gold, the little known Sri Lankan–Niluka Geethani Rajasekara will face a stiff challenge in her quest to better her own personal best.A dramatic progress since taking-up the marathon event in 2014, the 33-year-old Sri Lankan–a bag of confidence – intends to do better in Beijing but with a timing of two hour 40 minutes and seven seconds, it might need a miracle for her to win a medal on such a daunting stage.
The lack of experience at the big league will be a distinct disadvantage for the tiny Sri Lankan, but her larger-than-life personality might help her endure the challenge in good spirit. “I am in good shape,” she said. “I had few training sessions here to acclimatise to the conditions here. So it’s a matter going out and doing my best”.
“I am not quite sure how the conditions are going to be on Sunday, if it’s conducive, I should be able to finish within 2 hours 35 minutes–at least five minutes faster than my own best,” she added.Rajasekara is the last remaining Sri Lankan to compete after colleague Anuradha Indrajith Cooray finished 29th in the men’s marathon in 2 hours 25.04 secs.
“As I said before there are many back at home who didn’t wish my participation at the games, who doubted my abilities. This has motivated me to do even better here,” an optimistic Rajasekara said. The women’s marathon will flag off at 7.30 am in Beijing–5 am local time. However , defending champion Edna Kiplagat will look to create history by becoming the first to win three-consecutive world title in the marathon.
The 35-year-old Kenyan has contested just one marathon this year, finishing 11th in London in 2 hours 27:16. But since then she has performed solidly in three 10km races, recording a season’s best of 31:57. Both of her past two World Championships victories were held in hot conditions, and the marathon in Beijing will likely be the same.
Niluka Rajasekara (R) having a final discussion with her coach Sajith Jayalal in Beijing
But the marathon can be unpredictable at the best of times and there are many athletes in with a chance of winning.
While Kiplagat has the fastest PB of all the entrants with 2:19:50, Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba is the fastest athlete this year. The 25-year-old won the Xiamen Marathon in January in a world-leading 2:19:52, equalling the PB she set in 2012. Dibaba went on to finish a close second at the Boston Marathon in April.
However the biggest threat to Kiplagat’s title defence is Asian Games champion Eunice Kirwa from Bahrain. The 31-year-old is undefeated in her past seven races where four races were on Asian soil. She broke the national record with 2:22:08 when winning in Nagoya earlier this year.
There will be six Ethiopians joining the fray as the fastest entrants including Tokyo marathon winner Berhane Dibaba and London marathon winner Tigist Tufu, who will give their best to have a piece of the cake that is on offer.