Kenyan champ hopes to return to China to defend Xiamen marathon

Despite Kenyans failing to shine at the world championships in marathon, Mariko Kiplagat Kipchumba, said he exorcised that ghost when he won on Sunday to claim the Beijing Marathon title.

The Sunday race had an adjusted route compared to the World Marathon course. And Kipchumba feels his performance has been proven and any doubts that Kenyans grip on the race is lose has been defeated as they still rule the world in the 42km distance.

"I feel happy to have gone to Beijing and won," said Kipchumba on arrival in Nairobi on Tuesday. "We had high hopes of Kenya doing well at the world championships and they failed in marathon. Now that has been corrected."

"It was the first time for me to run the Beijing Marathon, I am very happy to win," said Kipchumba. "I have been preparing for the race for nearly all the year. My next goal is to win the Xiamen Marathon next year."

Kipchumba, 41, is now hoping that he will maintain top form as he seeks to defend his Xiamen title, which he won in 2014 in China. The next Xiamen International Marathon will be held on January 2, 2016.

Kipchumba also still has hopes that his performance will win the glance of Kenyan coaches ahead of 2016 Rio Olympics to be selected in the Kenyan team.

"We need to recapture the gold in Rio," he said. "The country has strong runners, but the selection is not done right, we need to push for new selection criteria and see if it will deliver the medal. At my age, I don' t know, but I may be still strong to challenge." Endi