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Kenya's Kipchoge targets fast time in RAK Half Marathon in UAE

Xinhua, February 10, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenya's Eliud Kipchoge will not be fast to speak on his intentions ahead of Friday's ninth edition of the RAK Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates.

However, the 30-year-old is certain about one thing: he is eyeing to clinch the title and lucrative 100,000 U.S. dollars windfall. However, in the event the world records falls in place, he will not hesitate to exploit the prospect.

"I will be going for the win. That is certain. I am fit and of course the people I will be competing against are all geared up and it will be a tight fight," he said in Nairobi on Monday "The world record will not be important, but if I can run 59.00, then anything is possible. Maybe the course record is attainable."

The RAK Half Marathon men's course record is 58:52 set by Kenya's Patrick Makau in 2009. Kipchoge leads the Kenyan contingent to Dubai, which also has Mary Keitany and Priscah Jeptoo. They depart on Wednesday.

Last year, eight men broke the one hour-mark while nine women ducked under 70 minutes and, for this year's race, the course has been modified so to make it even faster.

Kipchoge, at just 18, took the IAAF World Championships 5000m title in 2003 when he beat Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele - two of the all-time greats on the track - for the gold medal in Paris.

Almost 12 later, Kipchoge has proved himself to be a ferocious competitor on the roads with three wins out of his four marathon starts, and a half marathon best of 59:25.

In 2014, just his second season focusing on the classic distance, he won both the Rotterdam and Chicago Marathons.

"I want to do well in UAE and then focus on London marathon in April. I will not be running any other race until April," said Kipchoge.

"To make the Kenya team is not an easy thing. The talent at stake is enormous and I will do my part and win in the two races I plan to compete in. The rest will depend on the panel of selectors from Athletics Kenya (AK)," he added.

Against Kipchoge will be a field as strong as any seen in Ras Al Khaimah before. He will face six more runners with bests under 60 minutes, including fellow Kenyans Jonathan Maiyo (59:02), Cyprian Kotut (59:12) and Peter Kirui (59:22).

The Ethiopian contingent includes Mosinet Geremew (59:11) and the holder of the world junior marathon best Tsegaye Mekonnen.

Mekonnen's half marathon best stands at 1:02:41, although he passed through halfway in 1:01:39 en-route his time of 2:04:32 in the Dubai Marathon last year. Endite