By Kimathi Kamau
NAIROBI, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Seoul Marathon champion Amos Kipruto of Kenya is focused on winning the Amsterdam race in October after failing to make the podium at the Dutch IAAF Gold Label Dutch city race last year.
Kipruto who breezed to a sparkling 2:05:54 victory in South Korea on March 19 that is ranked the fifth-fastest this year is out to better his 2:09:08 performance in Amsterdam last year that saw him finish down the order in 13th.
"I'm doing well. I'm confirmed for Amsterdam. Next month, I'll run a 10K road race before returning to Kenya to finish my preparations for Amsterdam," Kipruto said on Thursday.
He opted to target a fall marathon after being overlooked by Team Kenya selectors for the Aug. IAAF World Championships in London.
This is despite leading a rare top-ten sweep for the country at Seoul where he detached from the competition after 35K to romp to a commanding nine-second victory over compatriot Felix Kipchirchir Kandie.
Kipruto who trains under Italian coach Claudio Berardelli knocked more than two minutes from his previous best of 2:08:12 run in Rome, Italy last year where he won on his marathon debut.
"My body is coming up nicely because I ran 60.24 last month at the Goteborg Half. I am focused on trying to win one of the biggest marathon in the world," the 2Running Club runner who finished second in that Sweden race added.
The father of two is aiming at challenging for victory or at least the podium to land an invitation to run at the prestigious World Marathon Majors circuit next season.
"I will look at running in the region of 2:05 and from there, anything is possible," Kipruto disclosed.
