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Kenya' s Koech seeks fast time in Lisbon half marathon

Xinhua, September 24, 2015 Adjust font size:

Kenyan Bernard Koech is hopeful he will reclaim his title in his first attempt in Lisbon Half Marathon when he returns to the Portuguese capital in October.

Koech, who won in Lisbon back in 2013 with a time of 59:54 minutes, will lead a galaxy of Kenyan runners going for the big title.

However, the 27-year-old distanced himself from pushing for the world record, which was set by Zersenay Tadese of Eritrea clocking 58:23 minutes in Lisbon back in 2010.

"I just want to win in Lisbon, maybe in fast time and improve my time. But the world record is not on my mind," Koech said on Thursday in Nairobi.

Lisbon Half marathon will be contested on Oct. 18.

Koech owns a marathon personal best time of 2:04:53 and a half-marathon best of 58:41. Although it was set on San Diego' s downhill course, it still makes him the third-fastest man in history under any conditions.

Koech will line up alongside 2011 world 10,000m champion Ibrahim Jeilan of Ethiopia. Alex Oloitiptip, who finished fourth last year, is also in the field. The Kenyan recently set a half-marathon personal best time of 59:28 in Copenhagen.

"Even though this course isn' t as flat as the one used for the other Lisbon race held earlier in the year, I believe this group of athletes can bring down the course record of 1:00:19," said race organiser Carlos Moia.

The men's course record was set in 2013 by Wilson Kiprop, while the women's course record of 1:07:54 was set in 2011 by Mary Keitany from Kenya. Endi