Kenya's Kiplagat focus on New York title and marathon majors

Kenya's Kiplagat focus on New York title and marathon majors

 NAIROBI, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's hopes and prayers will be with world champion Edna Kiplagat on Sunday when she lines up among elites¹ eyeing to clinch² her second New York Marathon title.

Organizers have confirmed that the race, the final one in the five big city marathons, will go on as planned despite fears of strong winds and storms in the United States.

Kiplagat, who skipped last year's event because of a knee injury, which she picked up after falling in Daegu World Championships, will be the best bet to reclaim³ the title she last won in 2010.

"My training has gone on well and now what remains⁴ is the main race in New York. I really need to win this event," Kiplagat said on Wednesday from Eldoret after winding⁵ up her training.

She departs later on Wednesday for New York together with compatriot and Boston Marathon champion Sharon Cherop.

The London marathon silver medalist said she is eager to reclaim her New York marathon title on return to the event on Nov. 4 and boost her chances of winning the World Marathon Majors (WMM) 500,000 U.S. dollar jackpot.

No Kenyan woman has won the WMM bounty⁶, despite their men colleagues having dominated it since 2007.

It will be the first major race for Kiplagat since her woeful performance at the London Olympic marathon where she wound up in position 20.

"That was a big disappointment to me in London. But it is part of the game. I have now been in training and it has since gone well and look forward to the challenge in New York," said Kiplagat.

"I have always loved running on the streets of New York, so I was really disappointed last year to miss because of the knee injury from my terrible fall at the World Championships. I am, of course, very, very happy to be invited back to NYC this year, and will be doing my best to try to win the race again."

Kiplagat is second in the World Marathon Majors (WMM) leader board with 50 points, 15 less than leader Mary Keitany, who has pulled out with a tendon injury.

A win in New York will give her the win, which alongside the 150,000 dollars on offer as prize money, will see her bank the 500,000 dollars cheque for the WMM series.

Another Kenyan, Sharon Cherop, winner of Boston, is third in the WMM leader board with 45 points and she will also be running in New York.

Cherop, 28, winner in Boston Marathon and 2011 World Championships marathon bronze medallist also hosts outside chance of winning the WMM.

Kiplagat will have to fight it out with Ethiopia's Buzunesh Deba though the organizers have ruled out the return of defending champion Firehiwot Dado. The Ethiopian was forced out with a blister⁷ injury.

1 elites   

精华( elite的名词复数 )； 精锐； 上层集团； （统称）掌权人物

参考例句：

• The elites are by their nature a factor contributing to underdevelopment. 这些上层人物天生是助长欠发达的因素。
• Elites always detest gifted and nimble outsiders. 社会名流对天赋聪明、多才多艺的局外人一向嫌恶。

2 clinch   

v.敲弯，钉牢；确定；扭住对方 [参]clench

参考例句：

• Clinch the boards together.用钉子把木板钉牢在一起。
• We don't accept us dollars,please Swiss francs to clinch a deal business.我方不收美元，请最好用瑞士法郎来成交生意。

3 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

4 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

5 winding   

n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈

参考例句：

• A winding lane led down towards the river.一条弯弯曲曲的小路通向河边。
• The winding trail caused us to lose our orientation.迂回曲折的小道使我们迷失了方向。

6 bounty   

n.慷慨的赠予物，奖金；慷慨，大方；施与

参考例句：

• He is famous for his bounty to the poor.他因对穷人慷慨相助而出名。
• We received a bounty from the government.我们收到政府给予的一笔补助金。

7 blister   

n.水疱；(油漆等的)气泡；v.(使)起泡

参考例句：

• I got a huge blister on my foot and I couldn't run any farther.我脚上长了一个大水泡，没办法继续跑。
• I have a blister on my heel because my shoe is too tight.鞋子太紧了，我脚后跟起了个泡。