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Kenya's Kimetto targets Glasgow win after Beijing worlds frustrations

Xinhua, September 8, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenya's Dennis Kimetto, the fastest marathon runner in history (2:02:57), said he will run in Glasgow on Oct. 4 in the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run.

Kimetto, who arrived in Nairobi on Monday from Luanda (Angola) where he was tenth in the Luanda Half Marathon, said he will also be looking to bounce back to form after failing to finish the marathon at the IAAF World Championships last month.

Kenyans Sammy Kitwara (1:00:25) and Stephen Kibet (1:01:09) dominated the Luanda marathon race, taking the first two positions. Philomena Cheyech (1:08:18) won ahead of Cynthia Limo (1:08:46) and Ethiopian Mamitu Daska (1:09:05) in the women's race.

"I felt fatigue because I had not recovered in time after failing to finish the race in Beijing in the World Championships," Kimetto said Monday in Nairobi. "But it was a good performance for me as I recover and I hope to be back to my best form soon."

Kimetto became the quickest marathon runner of all-time when he won the Berlin Marathon 12 months ago in a world record 2:02:57.

In doing so, the 31-year-old sliced 26 seconds off the previous world record time, also set in Berlin in 2013 by his compatriot Wilson Kipsang. Kimetto has a half marathon best of 59:14, set in Berlin in 2012.

He will be seeking to put Kenya back on top of the podium in Glasgow following victories in 2013 by Ethiopian legend Haile Gebrselassie and then in 2014 by South Africa's Stephen Mokoka.

He was a farmer before he became a full-time runner, and gives much of his hard-earned money back to the community to build churches and schools, and to fund young athletes.

"I help young athletes who are at the start of their running career, because they are like I also used to be in the past and I know how important it is to be helped at the start," he said. "In the future they are the world record holders and champions, so I find it important to help them." Endite