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Mary Ngugi has revealed the secret behind her winning ways that saw her outsmart a strong Ethiopian cast to win the Great North Run.
Mary Ngugi has opened up about what contributed to her dominant win over a strong cast at the Great North Run on Sunday.
Ngugi defied all odds to unleash a finishing kick that saw her claim the top honours in a time of 1:07:40 ahead of Senbere Teferi who was forced to finish second in a time of 1:07:41. Alemu Megertu completed the podium in the hotly contested race, clocking 1:07:42.
In an interview with Athletics Weekly, Ngugi explained that she had been preparing for the race under similar conditions and did not struggle throughout the whole race. She acknowledged that the field was strong but noted that she was also ready to face off against the strong women.
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15:09 - 03.03.2024
ATHLETICS Mary Ngugi, Emmanuel Wafula dazzle at 49th Roma-Ostia half marathon
Kenyans dominated the 49th Roma-Ostia Half Marathon, with victories in both men's and women's categories on Sunday.
Ngugi added that her coach, Steve Cram, had also done speed training with her and when it came to sprinting away from the pack, she was ready for the challenge.
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“It was crazy because no one was dropping off, and we were all running. When we got to the last mile, people were still there, but I knew I had a strong finish because my coach had prepared me well. Steve sometimes trains me like a track athlete because we do speedwork, which gave me confidence, and I was not scared,” Ngugi said.
“The conditions were not great but I won’t complain much about them because I’ve been training under such. It’s amazing to see people and I’m always grateful for such people who come out to cheer for us. They could have chosen to stay at home but they came,” she added.
Ngugi disclosed that for years, she had always wanted to run at the event but it collided with her program most of the time and she would always be forced to postpone her debut.
She was over the moon to finally get the chance to race at the event, explaining that her fans and family who could not make it to watch her live got a chance to follow her race on TV.
“It’s amazing because I’ve always wanted to run this race, but the timing was never great because I was preparing for my fall marathons. This time around, the timing was perfect, and I was able to do it. I’ve always watched the race on TV, and so for me to be here and know that people were watching me is great. I’m happy,” she added.
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21:00 - 08.09.2024
Why Justin Gatlin believes Fred Kerley is the sprinter to beat next season
Justin Gatlin on why he believes Fred Kerley is the sprinter to really watch out for at the 2025 World Athletics championships in Tokyo next year.
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