Lel targets Chicago or New York

London marathon champion Martin Lel hopes to run in either the Chicago or New York City races this year if he fails to win selection in the Kenyan team for the Helsinki world championships in August.

"If I am not selected for the world championships, then I will focus on either Chicago or New York," Lel told reporters.

Defending world women's champion Catherine Ndereba, who won the Boston marathon for a record fourth time this month, said she planned to run in Helsinki.

"This is my number one priority this year because the title is so special to me," Ndereba said.

Athletics Kenya spokesman Peter Angwenyi said Ndereba was an automatic selection for Helsinki as the defending champion.

However, Lel would have to wait until next month to see if he would be travelling to the Finnish capital.

"Athletics Kenya is currently talking to individual athletes to see who will be available for the world championships if they perform well," he said.

Lel's compatriot Evans Rutto, who won last year's London marathon, missed out on the Athens Olympics because the Kenyan team had already been selected.