Kenya's Karoki seeks world half marathon fast time in Copenhagen

He might have missed the medal at the Beijing World Championships in the men's 10,000m, but world cross country silver medallist Bedan Kariuki Karoki is inspired as he seeks gold at the Copenhagen Half Marathon.

Fast time will be Karoki's inspiration as he takes on some of the world best road racers in the IAAF Bronze Label Road Race on Sunday in the Danish capital.

Karori settled for fourth spot in Beijing in the 10,000m race won by Mo Farah of Britain followed by Geoffrey Kwamoror and Paul Tanui.

"When you race in such competition, it is not about winning, but the time you post. I have been in good form ever since I shock off my tendon injury in May. Beijing worlds was too close and I did not give it the best, but I have relaxed and regained my strength for the road racing season starting in Denmark," Karoki said on Friday night in Nairobi.

Karoki will be racing in the city and on the course which staged last year' s IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, won by Karoki's compatriot and rival Geoffrey Kamworor.

Kamworor won on that occasion in 59:08 and although the circuit has been modified from the world championship course, the race organizers believe that it is potentially an event faster route.

"This year's Copenhagen Half Marathon route differs slightly from the one used for the World Half Marathon Championships and is even faster," said Jakob Larsen, director of the Danish Athletics Federation. "I have no doubt that there can be a world record on it, if weather conditions are good" .

Karoki' s personal best is 59:23 from when he won the 2014 Philadelphia Half Marathon. He will also be spurred on by the fact that he just missed out on a medal at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015 finishing fourth in the 10,000m

However, while Karoki is the biggest name, there are six other runners with personal bests under the hour and another three just a few seconds outside it.

The fastest man in the field, and perhaps the biggest threat to Karoki, will be Kenyan Simon Cheprot, who ran 59:20 in the Rome-Ostia race in 2013 and returned there and crossing the line in 59:39 for second place earlier this year.

Ethiopia's Berhanu Legese in another man with good form to his name in 2015 and won the Berlin Half Marathon in March in 59:45.

The three other men in the field who have gone under one hour are all Kenyans Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo (59:35), Joel Kimurer (59:36), Paul Lonyangata, Alex Oloitiptip (59:58) and Emmanuel Bett. Enditem