Kipruto aims for personal best in Amsterdam Marathon

Titus Kipruto is optimistic about lowering his personal best when he lines up for the Amsterdam Marathon set for this Sunday.

The 24-year-old has his best time at two hours, five minutes, and five seconds set in April in the Milan Marathon where he cruised to victory.

Kipruto who trains in Kapsabet under the tutelage of Lawrence Saina said he will draw inspiration from Eliud Kipchoge’s recent exploits in his bid to record a new personal best.

Kipchoge challenged as well as inspired his colleagues after shattering his own marathon record last month in Berlin where he shaved a massive thirty seconds from his previous record. He clocked 2:01:09 in the German capital.

“My aim is to win the race and post a new best time. I am in the right shape having prepared for months. I drew lessons and motivation from Kipchoge’s performance in Berlin and will head to the starting point a motivated man,” he said.

Kipruto who finished second in the Mozzart Bet-powered Re-Discover Nandi Road race held in July said the climatic conditions in the Dutch capital will not deter him from bossing the race that has attracted a sizeable number of elite runners.

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Kipruto who will be participating in his second marathon in the year exuded confidence that luck will follow him this year having finished fourth in the Rotterdam Marathon last year where he timed 2:05:22.

“The weather is a little bit harsh but that will not stop me from achieving what I have planned. I trained in almost similar conditions back home. I did not make it to the podium in Rotterdam last year but I have prepared better this year and hopefully, all will go in line with the script,” he said.

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Among the athletes who will rival Kipruto include the reigning Hamburg Marathon champion Cybrian Kotut and Lemi Berhanu who has previously participated in the Boston and New York Marathons.

Meanwhile, 1500m women's record holder Genzebe Dibaba and the 2016 Rio Olympics 10,000m gold medalist Almaz Ayana will be marking their marathon debuts in the event.

The two Ethiopian athletes have had illustrious careers on the track and it will be interesting to see how they will fare in the marathon.