Two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor flew out of Nairobi on Tuesday for Chicago with one mission.
Kamworor, referred to as “man of all surfaces” is aiming to better his personal best time of 2:04:23 when he races in the Chicago Marathon tomorrow, and if it delivers him first on the finishing line, so be it.
He was bullish about his race prospects on the fast Chicago course that has produced six world records.
The latest record was in 2023 when the late Kelvin Kiptum obliterated the great Eliud Kipchoge’s record of 2:01:09 with a blistering 2:00:35 that stands to date.
Kamworor may not be thinking of challenging the current course record but will certainly feel he can go for a sub 2 hours 3 minutes.
He must have gotten plenty of confidence after triumphing at the Rotterdam Marathon in April in a time 2:04:34.
Kamworor said he has had excellent training in Kaptagat, Elgeyo Marakwet, and feels as good as he was in 2023 when he ran his personal best at the London Marathon.
“We have a big task ahead and having prepared well. I trust there is a possibility of a good result from me. It is my debut in Chicago. I understand it’s a fast course and that means the race may also be fast. I’m ready for that,” said Kamworor. You could almost feel him straining on the leashes, eager to hit the Chicago roads.
The 33-year-old Kamworor will certainly be motived for glory after injury challenges in his career including being hit by a motorcycle during a training run along Kaptagat Road in 2020, suffering a fractured tibia.
He vowed to push himself to the limit, inspired by Kipchoge, considered the GOAT of marathon running.
He has done more for us in terms of training. He has set so high a standard that we have every reason to work hard and achieve our best,” added Kamworor.
Geoffrey Kamworor.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat| Nation Media Group
He is known as “the man of all surfaces” due to his brilliant performance on the track, on the road and in cross country.
He won men’s 10,000m silver at the 2015 Beijing World Athletics Championships, is a three-time World Half Marathon champion (2014, 2016, 2018), a three-time World Cross Country champion (2011, 2015, 2017) and a two-time New York Marathon champion (2017, 2019).
Kamworor, who normally logs in 180km per week in training, paid tribute to his training mates saying that they are like a family helping one another to reach their true potential.
His work will be cut out for him as he competes against the defending Chicago Marathon champion and fastest man in the field, John Korir, who owns a personal best time of 2:02:44.
Korir is, naturally, one of the favourites to win the race.
But there is also formidable Ugandan Jacob Kiplimo, who finished second in the London Marathon in April, in his second competitive outing over the distance, with an impressive personal best time of 2:03:37.
Also in the mix are other fast Kenyans including the 2022 Abu Dhabi Marathon champion Timothy Kiplagat (personal best 2:02:55), the 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto (2:03:13) and Cybrian Kotut (2:03:22).
German’s Bashir Abdi (2:03:36), Ethiopian Huseydin Mohamed Esa (2:04:39) and Galen Rupp (2:06:07) of the USA are also worth mentioning.
Beyond who will win, the other question will be, how fast will they run?
