Keitany Ready for Great North Run Against Dibaba, Kiplagat

Published by Shanghai Daily on September 3, 2014

They are the best neighbours in running town of Iten in Kenya, but Mary Keitany and Edna Kiplagat are the worst of enemies on the racing course.

That will be exhibited in Newcastle on Sunday as the mother of all battles between Keitany and Kiplagat shapes up at the Bupa Great North Run, a 21km half marathon race.

Throw in Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba and the faint hearted will have to look away.

Keitany, who returned to competition in May after giving birth to her second child Samantha in Ottawa, is keen to reassert her dominance.

The result will give answer whether Keitany is on the right course towards her first marathon since London Olympic Games.

"I train hard and put all my focus on the task ahead. I have only had one race in Ottawa in Canada and it went well. But there was no big threat from established athletes. The Bupa Great North Run will be the first main race for me in my rehabilitation campaign as I return to active athletics," said Keitany Tuesday in Iten.