‘Man of all surfaces’ Kamworor ready to pound New York tarmac

Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor is best known as “a man of all surfaces.” This thanks to his outstanding success on the road, track and in cross country running.

After bagging gold at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in the Welsh city of Cardiff last year, Kamworor retained his cross country title at last March’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala.

This was after finishing 11th in the 10,000 metres on the track at last year’s Rio Olympics, clocking 27 minutes, 31.94 seconds.

Now, he has shifted gears to the 42-kilometre distance on the road, lining up for Sunday’s New York Marathon in the “Big Apple.”

Kamworor finished an impressive third in his marathon debut, clocking what is still his personal best time of 2:06:12 in the 2012 Berlin Marathon. He has run in New York before, finishing second in 2012 in 2:10:48 behind his compatriot Stanley Biwott (2:10:34).

The Kaptagat-based athlete says training with his Global Sports Communication running mates, including Berlin and Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and two-time world champion marathon Abel Kirui, motivates him.

“Berlin Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge is my mentor, and I always want to be like him. He really motivates me and his win recently made me train hard as I look forward to a good run this weekend,” he said before his departure to New York.

The 25-year-old athlete, who hails from Chepkorio village in Elgeyo-Marakwet County, considers Kaptagat “the best place for training.”

“I love training in Kaptagat because of its fine and conducive environment which has given me good results since I started my athletics career,” said Kamworor.

Kamworor said that he has done enough training after a disappointing finish in the August World Championships where he came in sixth place in 10,000m race where he clocked his seasons best of 26:57.77.

“In London things didn’t work well for me but I have fully recovered and my training has been good and what remains is to run the race which I hope it will come out well,” said the champion.

KAMWOROR’S BIO

Date of birth:  November 22, 1992

Place of birth:  Chepkorio, Elgeyo Marakwet County

Achievements

World Championships

2015 Beijing 10000m-Silver

World Cross Country Championships

2017 Kampala senior race-Gold

2017 Kampala senior team-Silver

2015 Guiyang senior race-Gold

2015 Guiyang senior team-silver

World Half Marathon Championships

2016 Cardiff, Individual-Gold

2016 Cardiff, Team-Gold

2014 Copenhagen, Individual-Gold

2014 Copenhagen, Team-Silver

Personal best times

5000m: 12:59.98

10,000m: 26:52.65

Half marathon: 58:54

Marathon: 2:06:12

Cross Country 12km: 34:52

Cross Country 10km: 28:24