Elvan wants to go it solo this time

Having missed the second edition of the event, Elvan is back, hungry as ever and ready to corner glory all by herself this time on Bangalore’s roads.

“I have really worked hard for this event and I think I can do well here, perhaps I can win it on my own this time. But the competition is really tough and hopefully, we can have a good race,” said Elvan, a former Ethiopian who now runs for Turkey.

Elvan has competed in two races this year -- the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) International half-marathon in the United Arab Emirates and the World’s Best 10K race in Peurto Rico. She won the RAK event, finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Mare Dibaba and Aselefech Mergia, on February 19 before placing fourth in the Peurto Rico 10k nine days later in 31:58.
Dibaba (no relation to the long-distance running ace Tirunesh Dibaba) is an emerging talent on the road-running scene.

She will be seen in action in Bangalore along with Mergia, who is the defending champion here.Elvan said she was thrilled with her performance in UAE. “It was my half-marathon debut in RAK and I did a good time (1:07:07). Now my target is to do well here and then prepare for the European Championships at Barcelona in July,” she said. After her triumph in 2008 here, Elvan went on to take silver medals at the Olympics in 5000 and 10000M behind Tirunesh.

“It was a dream come true,” said Elvan, who has plans to move up to the full marathon in the future. “But only after London 2012,” she said.