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Beijing flop Kipsang ready to spring back with victory in Amsterdam

Xinhua, September 12, 2015 Adjust font size:

New York marathon champion Wilson Kipsang is ready to spring back from Beijing worlds failure to stamp his authority in road racing at the Dam tot Damloop 15km event in Amsterdam on Sept. 20.

It will be Kipsang's first race since he failed to finish the world championship marathon in Beijing last month as he prepares for his title defence in New York in November.

"I am ready for the new challenge. In Beijing, I gave it my all, but the heat got the better of me and I had to drop out," Kipsang said on Saturday from Iten in Western Kenya.

The 33-year-old, who finished as the runner-up in the 2015 London Marathon, will face Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Galen Rupp of the USA and defending champion John Mwangangi of Kenya.

Rupp has never raced over 15km, while Kipsang has just once, running 46:27 for second in Tilburg in 2007. Ethiopia's Ayele Abshero, who hasn't competed all year, is also set to compete.

Kenya's Dennis Kimetto, the world marathon record holder of 2:02.57, who also dropped out of the Beijing race, was in Luanda, Angola last weekend for a half marathon race, which he finished in position 10. Both Kimetto and Kipsang are penciled to run in New York in November.

Also the three-time London Marathon champion is hopeful he will rekindle his past glory and see it propel him to another win as he returns on the competitive circuit at the Rock 'n' Roll marathon in Lisbon, Portugal on Oct. 18.

Organizers have confirmed that Lel is keen to compete in the marathon as he returns to competition after two year sabbatical following a career threatening knee injury he picked up after winning in Honolulu back in 2013.

"I feel there is still something I can offer the fans and marathon as a whole. Running in Portugal will be my first but hopefully, I will remain injury free and keep on running," he said Saturday from Iten.

"I feel I have the energy to run until after 40. I want to try the masters record when I cross the 40-year mark," he said. Enditem