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Makau leaves for Frankfurt with record aim

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 24- World marathon record holder Patrick Makau will make an assault to improve on his personal best time when he lines up at the Frankfurt marathon on Sunday.

Makau departed for Frankfurt on Wednesday confident and he will prevail on the quick and flat course of the oldest marathon on Germany soil.

“I am in great shape. I have trained well. After missing out on the Olympics, I believe I am fresh to contest the title in Frankfurt.”

“The world record is a fast time and very hard to improve. But that will depend on the weather and other conditions including the group that I will be running together with. Cooperation is crucial if the record is to be broken,”
Makau told Xinhua in Nairobi.

Makau was set to run in Berlin, but failed to seal a deal with the organizers before opting to run in Frankfurt.

About 15 world records have been set on the Berlin Course with Makau being the latest in 2011 for 2:03:38. Others are legendary Haile Gebrselassie 2:03.59 and Paul Tergat 2:04:54.

Organizers of Germany’s oldest city marathon, which will see its 31st edition, said they got the jewel in marathon crown in luring Makau, 27 to compete in Frankfurt.

“It is an honor for us that such an outstanding athlete has chosen to run at the Frankfurt marathon,” said Race Director Jo Schindler.

Makau (2:03.38) broke the marathon world record in Berlin, beating superstar Haile Gebrselassie’s 2:03.59 mark. The Ethiopian had entered the race as the world record holder, but Makau improved that mark by 21 seconds.

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However, a couple of weeks later in Frankfurt Makau had to sweat over his record where compatriot Wilson Kipsang clocked a course record of 2:03:42, just missing the mark by a mere four seconds

Compatriot Geoffrey Mutai attempted to break the record this year in Berrlin but missed out clocking 2:05.25.

Frankfurt race will be the eighth marathon in Makau’s career. Makau started seven high profile road races in Germany and won all of them.

“I was disappointed for not making the Olympics. I can’t fault the selection criteria of Athletics Kenya, but they took so much for granted and were not keen on the small issues.”

“The Olympics are not like any other marathons, underdogs have their chances to claim the limelight and that is why Kenyans were surprised by the Ugandan in London. However a silver and bronze is not easy to get and we must be happy for that achievement,” said Makau.

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