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NAIROBI, June 26-- Olympic champion Vivian Cheruiyot targets to improve on her personal best time in the Berlin Marathon in September. Cheruiyot, 36, confirmed on Wednesday that she will compete in the Berlin marathon on September 29. It will be her sixth marathon after the wins in Frankfurt and London and two second place finishes in London and New York and a fourth place performance in her debut also in London. Last year, Cherono was ranked world number one female marathon runner, which saw her also win the London Marathon. "I will be running in Berlin," said Cheruiyot. "It is another challenge, another test in my young career as a marathon runner." Cheruiyot will face defending champion, three-time winner and fellow Kenyan Gladys Cherono and Mare Dibaba of Ethiopia, the 2016 Olympic bronze medalist and the 2017 world champion, in the marathon. Cheruiyot finished second in New York in 2018, and second again in London in April behind countrywoman Brigid Kosgei, reversing their 2018 finishing positions. Her personal best and Cherono's (who was fourth in London this year) are very close, at 2:18:31 and 2:18:11. Cherono is 36, and Cheruiyot will turn 36 just before Berlin. "My goal now is to win for the fourth time in Berlin," said Cherono, who completed her hat-trick of wins in Berlin last year. Dibaba could realistically be considered the Olympic gold medalist after Jemima Sumgong and Eunice Kirwa have been relieved of their medals for doping. Her best time 2:19:52, is from Dubai 2017, but at 29 she is somewhat younger than her competitors. | 
