Kipchoge eyes London hat-trick but wont chase record

Olympic Marathon champion and two-time Berlin Marathon winner Eliud Kipchoge will not attempt a stab at the world record during the Virgin Money London Marathon scheduled for April 22.

Kipchoge, who won back-to-back London titles in 2015 and 2016 made it known that he will be targeting to complete the hattrick at the English capital this year.

​​”Preparations are going on well. Currently am working on strength and speed. I will not be going for the world record but I will run a good race with a lot of hopes,” said the 2016 Rio Olympics Games marathon champion.

The 33-year-old father of three reveled that he would soon make an attempt to break Dennis Kimetto WR of 2:02.57 set in 2014.

He narrowly missed the world record (WR) by just eight seconds in 2016 to clock 2 hours; 3 minutes and 5 seconds to become the second fastest manin April before Ethiopia’s track Legend Kennisa Bekele ran 2:03:03 to claim 2016 Berlin Marathon top honors in September 24.

Kipchoge did not defend his title in 2017 due to is commitment in the Nike Breaking2 project which he ran unofficial WR of 2:00.25 in Monza race track, Italy. Then few months later and he made an attempt an official record during BMW Berlin Marathon, which he clocked 2:03.32 despite the harsh weather conditions characterised by heavy down pour.

“Soon, I shall run a world record marathon. That is the only thing missing in my CV,” Kipchoge said as he enjoyed action alongside his children during the 27th Discovery Cross Country held at the Eldoret Sports Club, Usain Gishu County last weekend.

The 2014 Chicago Marathon winner looks forward to maintain unbeaten record in April and acknowledged the strong elite field led by defending champion Daniel Wanjiru who stunned Bekele to take crown in 2:05.48.

His training partners at Global Sports Communications in Kaptagat, Uasin Gishu County, London 2012 Olympic marathon silver medalist and two time World champion  (2009and 2011) Abel Kirui and Somali-Dutch Abdi Nageeye 2015 New York Marathon will give a run for his money.

The 2015 New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott will also challenge Kipchoge as Bekele and debutant Sir Mo Faraha of Britain who retired from the track during the 2017 London World Championships try to end his winning streak.

“Mo is a good person and I think he will have a good race. He has performed well in the track with four Olympic and six World titles. I think he will bring his winning spirit in road racing and take chances in winning the marathon,” said Kipchoge the 2003 Paris 5,000m World champion.

Kipchoge has been described as the greatest marathon of the modern era having won eight marathons out of nine races after a successful 10-year track career.

He also won the Abbott World Marathon Majors (AbbottWMM) jackpot twice back to back in Series X and X1.