FORMER world marathon record holder Wilson Kipsang hopes to strike his third victory with a course record in his fifth appearance at the April’s London Marathon.
Kipsang is well conversant with the London course, having won the 2012 and 2014 editions. He also placed fifth in the 2013 edition and second in 2015.
Kipsang believes he can smash his course record of 2:04.29 in London and going by his training, he thinks he is up to the challenge again this time around.
He set the London course record in 2014, just a year after posting his former world mark of 2:03.23. “Each edition in London Marathon has been very different with its own unique challenges. I have been striving to achieve something new and unique. This year, I am going there with the intention of lowering the course record,” said Kipsang yesterday after training.
The top marathoner has been undergoing intensive training for the last one month in readiness for the London show. “Preparations are going on well and it is now a month since I started training. Judging from my current training, I am in a position to run 62:00 minutes in half marathon even though I hope to improve tremendously in the remaining few weeks. I guess, If nothing bad happens, I will be in a position to compete well and break the course record,” Kipsang said.
“What I need at the moment is just to make sure I gain enough speed and endurance unlike in the previous editions where I felt I didn’t give my best,” he added.
In the last edition, Kipsang placed second clocking 2:04.47, behind compatriot Eliud Kipchoge who secured a win in his maiden appearance at the London Marathon.
The trio—Kipsang, world marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto and defending champion Kipchoge—will once again meet on the same course this year.
Kipsang has predicted a very competitive race considering London Marathon has attracted eight athletes with sub-2:06. They include Kimetto (2:02.57), Kipsang (2:03.23), Kipchoge (2:04.00) and Stanley Biwott (2:04.55) and Ethiopians Endeshaw Negesse (2:04:52), Kenenisa Bekele (2:05:04), Tilahun Regassa ( 2:05:27) and Abera Kuma (2:05:56).
“The top three athletes in the previous edition are present and the presence of Bekele could complicate matters further. The race needs good preparation in order to survive. It will be more of a tactical race than a fast one,” Kipsang hinted.
Kipsang, who won his first ever marathon in Frankfurt with a course record of 2:04.57 in the year 2010 hopes the weather will favour him.
“I love competing in London and I hope the weather will favour me for a sub-2:04 since I love improving my time in every other competition,” he noted.
With the London duel billed to set the momentum for the Olympic Games, Kipsang is also targeting to represent Kenya in Rio. “After London, we will know who will be in or out of the marathon Olympics team and I will be glad if I can compete for Kenya again,” Kipsang said.