Elluid Kipchoge is confident of breaking Chicago Marathon course record

Eliud Kipchoge

Nairobi, Aug 20 (IANS) Kenya's Rotterdam marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge will make another attempt to run under two hours and four minutes when he lines up at the fast course of the Chicago Marathon slated for October 12. Kipchoge, who launched his marathon career in 2012 winning in Eindhoven, has been primed as a man capable of challenging the World record, currently held by Kenyan Wilson Kipsang at 2:03.23, reports Xinhua.

However, the 31-year-old will not confirm if he will be going for the record in Chicago, his fourth race over the 42km distance.

"As I said before, I am still a novice in marathon running. I still need two or three different races to test my ability and prove to myself that I am within that bracket of fastest runners. For now, all I want is to run a fast race in Chicago," said Kipchoge Wednesday in Eldoret. Kipchoge has run three marathons, with his fastest being a 2:04:05 clocking in Berlin last year, in what was his second marathon. This year, he won the Rotterdam Marathon in April in 2:05:00.

Kipchoge will compete in the Chicago Marathon where he will chase the course record of 2:03:45, set by compatriot Dennis Kimetto alongside his long-time rival Kenenisa Bekele.

Kimetto has opted not to defend his crown and will instead be running two weeks earlier at the Berlin marathon on September 28. He will be chasing the world record set there by Kipsang (2:03.23).

Kipchoge and Bekele have raced against each other on at least 21 occasions, over 3000m, 5000m, 10,000m and cross country. Chicago will be their first marathon duel.