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Obiri won the Boston Marathon to set a new personal best time of 2:21:38.
Newly-crowned Boston Marathon champion Hellen Obiri has revealed that words of encouragement from her coach, Dathan Ritzenhein, propelled her to claim her first win over the 42km distance.
Obiri, a two-time world 5000m champion, revealed that her coach convinced her to go for the race and advised her on how to go about the race.
She added that she was not willing to race in the race which had attracted some of the strongest women in the world.
“I feel very happy to have won this race. I didn’t want to come for this race but my coach convinced me. My mind was somewhere else but he encouraged me and expressed his belief in me. He told me I had trained well and I would perform well but I was hesitant.
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19:20 - 17.04.2023
ATHLETICS Helen Obiri notches first marathon victory in Boston
Her 2:21:38 record is the fourth-fastest winning time in history.
He told me to practice patience up to the last minute and that is what has worked for me. I can’t believe I have won,” she said.
Obiri was one of the last entrants to the Boston Marathon as she was added to the star-studded field a few weeks to the race, on May 29.
Being her first time on the Boston course and second time competing in a marathon, Obiri said she had to be patient and watch how her fellow athletes were coordinating.
“I didn’t know anything about the race and so I waited for someone to kick so I would follow. We (my coach and I) planned for this race and I’m glad the plan worked out well,” she said.
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10:00 - 15.04.2023
ATHLETICS Hellen Obiri reveals why she chose to compete at the Boston Marathon
Obiri kickstarted her season with wins at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon (1:05:05) and New York City Half Marathon (1:07:21).
Obiri made her marathon debut at last year’s New York City Marathon where she settled for sixth place in 2:25:49.
She kickstarted her 2023 season on a high note by winning the Ras Al-Khaimah Half Marathon and New York City Half Marathon in respective times of 1:05:05 and 1:07:21. She is now the Boston Marathon champion, a title she won after cutting the tape in 2:21:38.
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