Keitany- What Pope Francis told me

Veteran athlete Mary Keitany has expressed her joy after meeting with the head of  the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, at the Vatican City in Rome, Italy after competing at the London marathon on Sunday.

The three- time London marathon champion together with her husband Charles Koech and her two children Jared Kipchumba and Samantha Jerop visited Rome to celebrate a mass.

The veteran athlete said:“We were honoured as a family to visit Vatican as we had an opportunity to meet with the Pope who blessed us with a mass and also encouraged me to continue using the talent given to me by God. He said talents come from God and therefore he urged us to use it to the fullest.”

Keitany missed the chance to bag a fourth title on Sunday when she finished fifth in 2:20:58 in a race won by compatriot Brigid Kosgei who clocked 2:18:20.

The 37-year-old is an ardent Catholic Church believer having wedded her husband Koech at the Iten Catholic Parish in 2012.

The athlete who hails from Iten in Elgeyo Marakwet County is regarded as one of the most decorated marathon runners since besides being the reigning New York City marathon champion, she is the first Kenyan and African to bag four titles in the race.

Keitany who holds the women only world record of 2:17.01 missed the chance to bag a fourth title on Sunday when she finished fifth in 2:20:58 in a race won by compatriot Brigid Kosgei who clocked 2:18:20.