Kamworor tips Kipchoge to break WR in London

World Half Marathon and World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor has tipped Olympic marathon gold medallist Eliud Kipchoge to break the world marathon record on Sunday in London.

Kamworor, who is the reigning New York City Marathon champion, tipped Kipchoge to shave off at least 10 seconds from the current record of 2 hours, 02 minutes and 57 seconds.

Kipchoge, who missed the WR by eight seconds when winning in London in 2016, clocking 2:03:05, has already requested for high pace with the first half of the race being covered in 61:15 minutes.

Kipchoge’s time in London was the second fastest time in marathon history, having come closer to breaking compatriot Dennis Kimetto's WR time of 2:02:57 set in Berlin in 2014.

However, Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, who is also in the rich London Marathon field, holds the second fastest time in history set while winning in Berlin in 2016.

Kamworor said Kipchoge’s trust in God, self-discipline, positive attitude, sacrifice and focus is what will help him deliver.

“I trained with you and (I) am indeed ready to witness 2.02.46 my mentor!” tweeted Kamworor.

Kamworor is fresh from sealing a hat-trick of World Half Marathon titles on March 24 in Valencia, Spain, and a year after retaining his World Cross Country title in Kampala.

It will be Kipchoge’s 10th marathon since his debut victory over the distance in 2013 Hamburg in a course record feat of 2:05:30.

RAINY BERLIN COURSE

After his ambitious Nike Breaking2 project on the Monza Formula 1 racetrack in Italy on May 6 last year where tried to run the marathon in less than two hours, clocking 2:00:25, Kipchoge took a stab at the WR in Berlin in September last year.

His efforts could only yield a winning time 2:03:32 with the rainy course curtailing his plan.

When asked if he is going for his third victory, the 33-year-old Kipchoge told the race organisers: “Absolutely!"

“If I was to win on Sunday, it would mean so much. It would show my consistency and I would be the happiest man on earth. To win London three times would be the best.”

The farmer from Kapsisiywa is the favourite to win the race again, as befits a phenomenon who has lost only one of his nine marathons and who has not been beaten in any for nearly five years.

Kipchoge however faces one of the richest ever field at London.

Among them is younger teammate Daniel Wanjiru, who took advantage of his absence last year to keep the London men’s title in Kenya, Bekele, the second fastest man in history, and homeboy Mo Farah.

The 2009 and 2011 World marathon champion Abel Kirui, fast-rising Bedan Karoki, who finished third last year and 2017 and 2015 World marathon champion Ghirmay Ghebreslassie from Eritrea are also in the mix.

Guye Adola, who finished second at 2017 Berlin Marathon and Tola Shura Kitata, the 2017 Frankfurt Marathon champion, are the other Ethiopians in the race.