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By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Twice he has stood in the path of Kenyans denying them the coveted gold medal at both the World Championships and the Olympics Games in marathon.
However, no one is blinded by the fact that Uganda's Olympic marathon gold medalist Stephen Kiprotich's title defence might be built on quick sand and may fail to last the test of time when it comes up for challenge against Kenyan and Ethiopian runners.
"I think I have prepared enough. I can say I am ready," that was Kiprotch's statement as he left Nairobi for Rio.
Ironically, he left with his friend, training mate and now enemy Eliud Kipchoge in the same flight. The two have been holed up at the training camp in Kaptagat, near Eldoret under the same Dutch athletics manager, Jurrie van der Velden.
"We are friends and he knows what I go through in training. We have done it together and when we are in a race, it will be every man for himself," said Kipchoge.
Kiprotich, a surprise winner in London Games proved his victory was no fluke when he repeated the feat in Moscow at the World marathon championships in 2013.
Now he will now be the prime target for the other 158 runners as they attempt to claim his crown. Since his Olympic and world championship feat, Kiprotich has not recorded any other major triumph and faces some of the fastest marathoners on Sunday.
Alongside Kipchoge, Kenya will also have former Boston marathon winner Wesley Korir and New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott.
The late Samuel Wanjiru became the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon gold at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.
"The team is very strong owing to their performances but I want them to use their brain more in tackling the road. Remember we have rivals from different nations and they should execute their winning strategy well," said Abel Kirui, the 2011 World marathon champion in Eldoret. The men's marathon race will be on Sunday.
