Kenya's Kipsang confirms entry to London Marathon

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-17 22:17:50|Editor: Yamei

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NAIROBI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) -- Former marathon world record holder Wilson Kipsang has confirmed he will compete at the London Marathon in April.

Speaking from his training base in Iten, Kipsang said he is happy to be returning to London and plans to focus his energy on winning, even though he faces Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Chicago Marathon winner Mo Farah. Kipchoge is also the current world marathon record holder.

"The opportunity to come back to London is a great privilege for me. I'm focused on winning," he said on Thursday.

Kipsang, who turns 37 in March, has high hopes of reclaiming the London Marathon title, which he last won in 2014 in 2:04:29.

Since his marathon debut back in 2010, Kipsang has picked up winner's medals in Tokyo, Berlin, London, New York, Honolulu, Frankfurt and Lake Biwa. However, injury and poor tactics have seen him go a full year without a win.

In 2018, he took part in three marathons, failing to defend his title in Tokyo as he pulled out with stomach cramps, but held on to win in Tokushima, Japan in a time of 2:19:35. He went on to finish third at the Berlin Marathon, clocking 2:06:48 behind Kipchoge.

"When I try to remember the London Marathon, it gives me nice memories. To have run and won twice in a good time in London offers me such good memories."

"For me, the years I missed the London Marathon made me truly sense that I was missing something. This is a privilege for me. I am happy to return and look forward to having a nice race. It will be a comeback race for me. I expect to have a good time and focus on winning," said Kipsang.

The former Olympic marathon bronze medalist failed to confirm whether he would put his name in the cap to be drawn for the 2019 World Championships, which will be held in Doha, Qatar in October.

Kipchoge set the current London Marathon course record of 2:03:05 in 2016. But Kipsang feels the most important target will be winning the rest, and getting better of Kipchoge, who only has one marathon loss since his debut in 2012, ironically losing to Kipsang in Berlin in 2013.