New York Marathon champions returns home, vows to soldier on in record quest

Wilson Kipsang’s victory at the New York Marathon last Sunday that made him wrap up the 2013/2014 World Marathon Major Series has heightened his hunger to reclaim the world marathon record.

Kipsang, who brushed aside the struggling Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa in the last few metres to win in New York in 2:10:59, said he was determined to reclaim the world marathon record after a hat-trick of success in Berlin, London and New York to qualify for the Sh44.6 million purse in the World Marathon Majors.

(READ: Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany triumph in New York City)

“Everyone has his own ambition every season, and for me I once broke the world record and I still have the urge to go for it after Dennis Kimetto took it,” said the athlete from Keiyo.

“I had not even celebrated (the) first anniversary, and that is why it’s still on my mind to get it back, hence the confidence is still there.”

The 32-year-old, who won bronze at the 2012 Olympic Games, broke the world marathon record in Berlin last year with a time of 2:03:23, beating the previous time of 2:03:38 set by Patrick Makau.

A day to the record's first anniversary, training partner Kimetto shattered the mark in the German capital, clocking 2:02:57.

(READ: Dennis Kimetto sets new marathon world record in Berlin)

Kipsang said the record can go within the next year. “I was happy for Kimetto but I won’t be shocked if he is to better it himself or another Kenyan, including me, within one year,” said Kipsang.

(READ: World marathon record can go within a year - Kipsang)

“It shows that Kenya has got rich talent and that their training patterns have improved and that the level of competition is high...one just can’t sleep on his laurels and wait for things to happen,” said Kipsang