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NAIROBI, Sept. 20 (Xinhua) -- World marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya is trying to break his own world mark when he lines up at the Chicago marathon next month.
The 32-year-old has been struggling with poor form and niggling injuries for the last two seasons but believes he has overcome the challenges and is now ready to take up the baton from where he left.
"It is true there was a lot of excitement and expectations from me in the last two seasons, which I failed to deliver. But that was down to injuries, fatigue and loss of form," Kimetto said from Eldoret.
"I have since gone silent to reassess my form and train harder and now I believe I will emerge with strong performance in Chicago and a world record or course record is my first priority because I know I have what it takes to win," he added.
Kimetto had won Tokyo and Chicago marathons in 2013 before setting a new world record over the distance of 2:02:57 in Berlin in 2014.
He now targets his course record, which has stood the test of time for three seasons of 2:03:45. This year' s Chicago marathon will be held on Oct. 11.
"After setting the world record in Berlin, I have not done well in full marathons but I am glad that my body is now responding very well in training. I am raring to go," he said.
Indeed Kimetto was part of the Kenya marathon team to the Beijing World Championships together with former Paris marathon champion Mark Korir and New York winner Wilson Kipsang.
However, only Korir finished the race in position 22 as Kimetto and Kipsang dropped out citing exhaustion and hot weather condition.
He has not won a race since and believes, Chicago will serve as his comeback. It will be his second appearance in the American soil after his debut in 2013 for the full marathon distance.
"I know the course well now. That is why I can boldly say a course record is possible," said Kimetto.
Among other athletes lined up for Chicago Marathon are former world marathon champion Abel Kirui and Tokyo Marathon course record holder Dickson Chumba.
Former 10km world record-holder Micah Kogo is also in the line-up and so is Sammy Kitwara. Ethiopia legion will be led by Tsegaye Kebede. Enditem
