Mutai targets World Record in Berlin

The 2009 World marathon silver medallist Emmanuel Mutai has only won two of his 15 marathon races since making debut over the distance at 2007 Rotterdam.

Mutai, who will be making his 16th career marathon race appearance at this year’s Berlin Marathon on Sunday in Germany, has finished second, only winning one World Marathon Majors race in 2011 London.

Despite his consistency, Mutai has played second fiddle thrice at London, twice at New York City and once in Chicago and Berlin respectively.

However, Mutai is determined exorcise the demons by going for victory on his second return at Berlin’s fast course where he faces among others London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Geoffrey Mutai.

“From the statics, I am one of the most consistent marathoner but I have won only one race in the World Majors and that is what will inspire me to victory on Sunday,” said Mutai, a father of three, who has been training in Kaptagat for the last 10 years.

Mutai, who expects a fast race once again, said the World Record of 2:02:57 could go up in smoke but that will depend on several factors including how the marathoners will wake up on the day, the weather conditions and the pacemakers.

“We had fine weather and strong pacers last year. We are in great shape,” said Mutai, who finished second in personal best in 2:03:13 in Berlin last year after pushing compatriot Dennis Kimetto to a new World Record time of 2:02:27. That saw Mutai improve his personal best of 2:03:52 from a second place in Chicago in 2013,” he said.

Mutai, 30, also tipped his training partner Kipchoge, who finished second in 2013 Berlin and Geoffrey Mutai, the three times New York City Marathon champion, to perform well.

It will be Mutai’s second race this year after finishing 11th at London Marathon in April.

After a seventh place at the 2007 Rotterdam in 2 hours 13:06 minutes, Mutai would win the 2007 Amsterdam Marathon in personal best 2:06:29. His second victory came at the 2011 London Marathon when he improved his personal best to 2:04:40.

Mutai has participated in all the London Marathon races since his debut in the 2008 race, winning in 2011 (2:04:40), besides finishing second in 2010 (2:06:23), 2013 (2:06:33) and 2014 (2:03:13) respectively. How wound fourth at the 2008 (2:06:15) and 2009 (2:06:53).

Mutai has also taken part in the New York City Marathon, finishing second at the 2010 (2:09:18) and 2011 (2:06:28) and Chicago Marathon to settle sixth in 2008 (2:09:52) and second in 2013 (2:03:52).