Rome winner Kipruto ready to fight for Rio gold

Rome Marathon winner, Amos Kipruto said he is ready to fight for gold at the Rio 2016 Olympics this summer as he remains hopeful that his glorious marathon debut on Sunday can help secure him a ticket for the August showpiece.

Kipruto was speaking on his return home after clocking 2:08:12 at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race to beat Ethiopia’s Birhanu Addissie Achamie by more than a minute.

He revealed that while he is yet to hold talks with his coach on the possibility of participating in the July 31 Airtel New Delhi Half Marathon in India, his main aim is to claim more honours in Brazil if Athletics Kenya (AK) give him the coveted ticket.

The father of twins who trains in Kapsabet together with 2016 Paris Marathon winner Cyprian Kotut hailed his coach, Italian Claudio Berardelli, saying he is the man behind his Rome triumph.

“I had a minor tendon injury that I had failed to completely shake off during my preparations. Claudio advised that I stay close to the pacesetters warning that if I pushed myself too hard I’d easily crumble. I think it paid off,” he asserted.

“That morning (Sunday) it wasn’t that bad and throughout the race I kept thinking maybe I should give at a stronger leap. I knew he was watching on TV so I stuck to his strategy.”

Kipruto adds that while he was confident in himself coming into the race, stealing the limelight away from other top brass athletes was a surprise even to himself.

“It was my only debut and I was coming up against top runners with way better personal marathon records. At the 35-kilometer mark I looked my watch and realized I was still within my time. I was still feeling strong so I pulled away.”

Just over one second denied Kenya a 1-2 finish as Addisie crossed the line 2:09:27, one second before another Kenyan debutant, Dominic Ruto.

Tags:

Athletics Kenya Athletics Kenya(AK) Kipruto Dominic Ruto

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