Shanghai marathon champion Lonyangata dreams of reclaiming Paris marathon title

NAIROBI - Shanghai marathon champion Paul Lonyangata is focused on his training and hopeful to be fit for the Paris marathon, which has been pushed back to Oct 18.

Lonyangata, who won the biggest marathon in France in 2017 and 2018, but failed in his attempt to make it three times in a row last year, believes the coronavirus pandemic will clear soon. Last year he finished third clocking 2:07:29.

He had high hopes of making amends on his fourth attempt in April but has had to wait as the race was postponed to October.

But even that has not left the 27-year-old frustrated as he believes the world will overcome the coronavirus and sports competition will resume again.

"The world today is different and we must adapt to what the health officials are telling us. I still do my training, though not as I would have wanted. I have enough time to adapt and hopefully will have the training going on well soon.

"Of course I look forward to returning to action and hopefully stage a good run. I want to be on the podium by reclaiming the title, which I last won in 2018. That is what I pray to achieve," Lonyangata said on Tuesday from West Pokot.

Kenya's government has extended a 21-day curfew from dusk to dawn and restricted movement across the country.

Sports competitions have been canceled and athletes are not allowed to train in groups. However, Lonyangata is taking all that in his stride and though he is secluded with his family, he still manages to make the long runs on his own.

Lonyangat set his best time of 2:06:10 when winning the 2017 Paris Marathon, the first of two victories in the French capital.

In 2017, Lonyangata and his wife Purity Rionoripo both won the Paris marathon to make history as the first couple to achieve the feat.