'I have a lot of pressure' - Hellen Obiri speaks days to 2024 Boston Marathon

9th April 2024 - by Tony Kipkorir

The 2024 Boston Marathon will be held on Monday, April 15 in the United States.

Hellen Obiri celebrates after her win in New York. PHOTO| AFP

SUMMARY

In Boston, Obiri will go head-to-head with the likes of Ababel Yeshaneh, Edna Kiplagat and Worknesh Degefa.
The multiple world champion currently trains in the United States under the tutelage of Dathan Ritzenhein.
She heads to Boston as the defending champion.

Hellen Obiri has divulged that she is feeling a little bit uncomfortable ahead of the 2024 Boston Marathon.

Obiri, who won the title last year in her debut in an impressive time of 2:21.38, will be seeking to add another title to her trophy cabinet in the race scheduled to take place on Monday, April 15.

According to the mother of one, all the attention will be focused on her when she goes head-to-head with some of the best road race runners in Boston.

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“This year I have a lot of pressure. You know, like you are the defending champion. Everybody will be looking at you. So you have to be at your best so that you can show people you are the best,” commented the 34-year-old.

However, despite the pressure, Obiri disclosed that she knows how she is going to handle it on Monday.

“I have been competing with some elite athletes all over the world for so many years. So, when I am going to Boston, I am going like Hellen Obiri. I am going to run my race and I am also going to give my best,” she noted.

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The two-time world champion heads to Boston with a personal best of 2:21.38 which she set at the same race one year ago.

In Boston, Obiri will face stiff competition from the likes of the Ethiopian trio of Tadu Teshome, Worknesh Degefa and Hiwot Gebremaryam.

Teshome has a personal best of 2:17.36 which she set in Valencia in 2022 while Degefa and Gebremaryam have lifetime bests of 2:17.41 and 2:17.59 respectively.

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Besides the Ethiopian competitors, some of the other athletes who might give the one-time New York City Marathon a tough time in the eagerly anticipated marathon include Kenyan runners Judith Korir (2:18.20), Mary Ngugi (2:20.22) and Vibian Chepkirui (2:20.59).

Veteran marathoner Edna Kiplagat (2:19.50), Meseret Belete (2:18.21), Ababel Yeshaneh (2:20.51) are also expected to be in the mix.

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