Kenya's marathon world record holder Patrick Makau said Wednesday he would be going for an historic double victory in April's London marathon and the Olympic Games in the same city three months later.
Makau, who set a new world mark of 2hr 3min 38sec in winning the Berlin marathon last September, is among six elite Kenyans lined up for the London marathon on April 22.He also heads the provisional list of five Olympic probables named last month for the 2012 Olympics, of which the final three will be picked after the London marathon.
"I am ready to run the London marathon in April and also in the Olympics," said Makau, who will begin his preparations in a half-marathon in Nairobi on February 19.
The race is being organised by Athletics Kenya and former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Makau said he is well aware of the daunting task he will face in the London marathon when he comes up against compatriots including the reigning champion Emmanuel Mutai and the double world champion Abel Kirui.
"The competition will be tough but I am preparing well and I think I will be in good shape. The two events mean so much for me," he said. Meanwhile, Lord Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the London Olympic Games, on Wednesday said Kenyan athletes are a great hit in Great Britain and he looks forward to hosting Rudisha and co. for the Games.
Coe, speaking to the Daily Nation on telephone from Dar es Salaam where he was touring as part of the London Olympics’ International Inspiration programme, said he was proud, as a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, to have voted for triple world champion Vivian Cheruiyot as the female world sportswoman of the year on Monday. “Kenyan athletes are very popular in the UK and many of them spend a lot of time training and competing in the United Kingdom and it would be great to welcome them for the Olympics,” said Coe. (NMG)
News from http://thecitizen.co.tz/sport/-/19646-kenyas-makau-eyes-historic-london-double
Makau, who set a new world mark of 2hr 3min 38sec in winning the Berlin marathon last September, is among six elite Kenyans lined up for the London marathon on April 22.He also heads the provisional list of five Olympic probables named last month for the 2012 Olympics, of which the final three will be picked after the London marathon.
"I am ready to run the London marathon in April and also in the Olympics," said Makau, who will begin his preparations in a half-marathon in Nairobi on February 19.
The race is being organised by Athletics Kenya and former world marathon record holder Paul Tergat as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Nairobi-based United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
Makau said he is well aware of the daunting task he will face in the London marathon when he comes up against compatriots including the reigning champion Emmanuel Mutai and the double world champion Abel Kirui.
"The competition will be tough but I am preparing well and I think I will be in good shape. The two events mean so much for me," he said. Meanwhile, Lord Sebastian Coe, the chairman of the Local Organising Committee of the London Olympic Games, on Wednesday said Kenyan athletes are a great hit in Great Britain and he looks forward to hosting Rudisha and co. for the Games.
Coe, speaking to the Daily Nation on telephone from Dar es Salaam where he was touring as part of the London Olympics’ International Inspiration programme, said he was proud, as a member of the Laureus World Sports Academy, to have voted for triple world champion Vivian Cheruiyot as the female world sportswoman of the year on Monday. “Kenyan athletes are very popular in the UK and many of them spend a lot of time training and competing in the United Kingdom and it would be great to welcome them for the Olympics,” said Coe. (NMG)
News from http://thecitizen.co.tz/sport/-/19646-kenyas-makau-eyes-historic-london-double
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