Defending champion Poppy Mlambo (Central Gauteng Athletics) is convinced that she can set her career-best performance at the Nedbank Durban City Marathon this coming Sunday.
The race has added significance as it is both the South Africa Marathon Championships and a qualifier for the Beijing Olympics. Competing in only her third marathon, Mlambo reckons she has what it takes to break new grounds.
"My basic aim is to improve my personal best of 2 hours 39 minutes 19 seconds (2:39:19) which I achieved when I won my maiden marathon at the Nedbank SA Marathon Champs last year, in Port Elizabeth.
"My goal is to achieve the Olympics A standard qualifier of (2:36). I have not run a marathon since the World Championships in Osaka Japan last August, so I should be in my best form this weekend," Mlambo revealed.
Dimakatso Menong (Athletics Gauteng North) and Eunice Nhlapo (Athletics Gauteng North) are expected to be Mlambo’s main challengers in her title defence, while the presence of Lesotho’s Mamarolla Tjoka and Beata Naigambo of Namibia will provide the pace Mlambo needs to break new grounds in her fledging marathon career.
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