NAIROBI, Sept. 28 (Xinhua) -- Former world marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto said the new mark set by compatriot Eliud Kipchoge in Berlin earlier this month can still be improved.
Speaking in Eldoret on Friday, Kimetto, who holds a personal best time of 2:02:57 ran in Berlin 2014, says he will know if he will be among a short list of marathon runners who can threaten the record.
Kipchoge pushed the bar higher when on Sept. 16 he set the world record in Berlin clocking a shin-cracking 2:01:39 to become the only man to run under the two hours and two minutes mark.
Kimetto, who had for four years been the only athlete to run under 2:03:00 says it will take something special to challenge the record.
"Congratulations Kipchoge on your new world record. It was a fantastic run, you're an example for each and every runner in this world. But records are meant to be broken and it will stand until another athlete rises on the horizon to shutter it," said Kimetto.
Knee and ankle injuries had taken the wind out of Kimetto's sails which has seen him fail to finish any marathon race since 2016 in London.
However, Kimetto is not giving up and he has set his target on returning to winning ways in Shanghai marathon on Nov. 18.
Kimetto has won in Tokyo, Chicago and Berlin and finished second at the 2016 London marathon.
Kimetto in April suffered another loss in Austria capital when he aggravated his calf muscle to pull out of the Vienna marathon after the 21km mark.
He has been in and out of hospital in Germany and hopes when he returns from Hamburg next week for review, he will be given the all clear signal.
"I am going for a review in Germany. I have just cleared my long run now and am resting. There has not been any pain in my leg and I believe it is clear sign I am getting back to my best form," he said.
The Kenyan says he targets to run the Shanghai marathon in two hours and six minutes. Should he be successful to finish the race, Kimetto says he will then focus on reclaiming his world marathon record back.
"Next year will be different and only time will tell what is in store. But running fast interests me," said Kimetto.
