Koren Yal aims for course record at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon – Athletics news
Koren Yal, the 24-year-old long distance from Ethiopia, who had opted for a career in athletics because she was persuaded of an economically safer and healthier life, is all set to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on the October 16. The young
girl, motivated by the desire to prevail against a strong line-up, is also looking forward to mark a new course record in the event.
Last year, while appearing on the field for the run that is regarded as an IAAF Silver Label Road Race, the Ethiopian, for crossing the finishing line in two hours, 24 minutes and 32 seconds, her personal best, ended the race for a fourth position. Talking
about her targets this year, she said that her preparations for the race were far better last year and this time, she would still strive to mark her personal best provided that weather conditions would remain in her favour.
Expressing her thoughts, Yal said, “My fitness and preparation has been better than last year. My target will be to run my personal best, under 2:24, but to do it everything depends on the weather conditions and if I have a good pacemaker like last year.
I’m training daily under the supervision of my Ethiopian coaches, Gemedu Dedefo and Gebeyehu Berihun.”
She added that both coaches had been aided by technical advice provided by an Italian coach named Gabriele Nicola.
The ninth finisher of the 2007 World Cross Country Championships said that summers in Ethiopia were usually rainy, causing them to skip either morning or evening training sessions most of the time. However, undeterred by unfavourable weather conditions,
she raced 160 to 170 km per week. Other athletes in her training group constituted Aberu Kebede, Aselefech Mergia, Atsede Habtamu and Tirfe Tsegaye.
This year has already brought two successful races for Yal as in January, for marking a new course record, she not only prevailed at the Mumbai Marathon, but also earned the prize money of USD $36,000. Three months down the line, she finished third at the
Paris Marathon.
However, the young girl was quite sceptical about travelling around the world as her deficiency in speaking English had brought her stressful moments. However, other than the language barrier, there had not been any real issue which could cause her develop
negative feelings about travelling around the globe to pursue her passion and profession.
Tags: