NAIROBI, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya will make a second attempt to break the world record when he competes at the Berlin Marathon in September.
Kipchoge will be making his fourth appearance at the Berlin event. His debut in the German capital in 2013 saw him finish second behind compatriot Wilson Kipsang, which remains the only loss he has endured in the nine marathons he has run in.
Kipchoge subsequently rebounded from that disappointment by winning the 2014 Rotterdam Marathon, 2014 Chicago Marathon, 2015 London Marathon, 2015 Berlin Marathon, 2016 London Marathon, 2016 Olympic Marathon, 2017 Berlin Marathon and 2018 London Marathon.
Berlin is touted as one of the fastest marathon courses in the world, and it is where Dennis Kimetto of Kenya set the current world record of 2:02.57 in 2014.
Others to have set their world records in Berlin include Haile Gebreselassie, Patrick Makau, Paul Tergat and Kipsang.
"I am excited to announce my return to the Berlin Marathon this September," Kipchoge said Tuesday in Nairobi.
"It is my goal to run fast, but when I enter a race I focus on winning and if the world record falls in place I will gladly go for it."
In addition to Kipchoge and Kipsang, another notable entrant in Berlin will be current half-marathon world record holder Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea.
Bad weather in last year's Berlin Marathon put paid to Kipchoge's world record chances, as he could only clock a time of 2:03:32.
"My preparation is entirely concentrated on the Berlin Marathon on September 16. I am confident I can beat my personal best on this fast course if conditions are good," said Kipchoge.
The Kenyan, whose personal best time of 2:03:05 at the 2016 London Marathon is eight seconds shy of the world's best, is optimistic that if the conditions are perfect, then he will be in line to shave a few seconds off and hopefully have a stab at the world record.
"Berlin is a special race and a marathon I love to run. Every year I run faster and faster. In my first event I ran 2:04:05, the second time I ran 2:04:00, and last year I ran 2:03:32. What will I do this year? You will see in September!" quipped Kipchoge.
Kipsang is the last man to beat Kipchoge in a marathon when he set a then-world record of 2:03:23 to win the 2013 Berlin event. The world record was lowered a year later by Kimmeto's 2:02:57, which still stands.
