Kamworor targeting Personal Best in fast Valencia course
Three time World half marathon winner Geoffrey Kamworor is predicting a new personal best at the Valencia Trinidad Alfonso EDP marathon on Sunday.
The former New York City Marathon winner says he is not bothered to take on a strong field on a super-fast course in Valencia.
With a best time of 2:06:12, set in in 2012, he will line up in the Spanish City as only the 10th fastest in the field based on PBs.
Kamworor says given that Valencia has hosted a number of record-breaking distance running performances lately he will approach his race with alot of confidence.
“I have been categorical that I want to one day break Eliud Kipchoge’s world marathon record of 2:01:39. But for now I want to lower my PB and also fight to win in Valencia, a city that holds a special place in my heart,” said Kamworor.
In recent years he has focused on the New York City Marathon – which has no pacemakers and a slowish course – and which he has won in 2017 and 2019.
Kamworor is also a former world cross-country winner and has a good record in Valencia, as he won his third world half-marathon title in the city in 2018.
When it comes to marathon potential, he will no doubt be comparing his fitness to training partner Kipchoge – as they are coached by the same man, Patrick Sang – although the 28-year-old is also on the comeback from a car accident last year.
“I have big dreams and ambitions in the marathon and want to run as fast as possible and break barriers,” he says. “Valencia will be ready to help us push our limits on race day and I am sure it will be amazing.”
Facing him in the marathon on Sunday are fellow Kenyan Lawrence Cherono, a former winner of the Boston and Chicago marathons with a best time of 2:03:04, which makes him the fastest in the field.
Others are Kinde Atanaw of Ethiopia, who won the Valencia Marathon in 2019 in 2:03:51 and was poised to run in London in October but had to withdraw after a positive Covid test.
Herpasa Negasa of Ethiopia, who has a best of 2:03:51, another Ethiopian, Chalu Deso, who has a PB of 2:04:53, Tanzanian 2:04:55 man Gabriel Geay and Sondre Moen of Norway – the latter of whom held the European record until 2019 are also in the mix.
