NAIROBI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge of Kenya will focus on winning in London Marathon and not setting a world record.
The Kenyan missed out on breaking his compatriot Dennis Kimetto's 2:02:57 mark in Berlin last September owing to heavy rains and winds, but promised to return stronger and try to break the record in future.
But he has ruled out trying to go for the record in a star studded London Marathon in April, but instead will focus on winning the race.
"The course in London is challenging and with all top athletes running in London, it is important to focus on winning and see if the record will fall within the stride. But to go out purely fighting to break the record is not ideal," Kipchoge said on Wednesday from Eldoret.
Already Ethiopia's Kenenisa Bekele has sounded the warning bells saying he is keen to break the world marathon record to go with his marks over 5000m and 10,000m.
The Ethiopian told the world's athletics body IAAF that despite missing in his initial attempt in Berlin in September, he is ready to try it again.
"My goal is to have that marathon record before my retirement. I want to have that record. Of course it is not easy. I have to try of course; if I add to the 10 and 5, it will be special. That is my big goal," he said.
He also said he would like to receive an invite to run the London Marathon, for which Mo Farah and Eliud Kipchoge have already been confirmed. But Kipchoge ruled out going for the record in London.
