NAIROBI, Oct. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor will put his marathon title on the line in New York City on Nov. 4 eyeing to hit two birds with one stone, retain the gold medal and cement his spot in Kenya team to 2019 World Championships.
The 25-year-old feels a special connection with New York and is doing everything possible to become the heir apparent to the legendary marathon king and Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge.
The two are training partners under coach Patrick Sang and having seen Kipchoge obliterate the world record in Berlin (2:01:39), Kamworor is keen to carve his own niche in New York.
He intends to become the first man since John Kagwe, 20 years ago, to win the New York Marathon in successive years. "To me, it is always about the next competition," said Kamworor on Monday.
"The medals I have won have always motivated me, but after I win a medal I forget about it and aim for the next goal. In some ways it's a bit like climbing a tree. When you climb up to the next branch you forget about the branch that you have left behind."
Ironically, it will be the seventh marathon for Kamworor, despite making his debut in 2012 in Berlin where he clocked his personal best time of 2:06:12. The other five races he has been to Berlin (twice), Tokyo and New York (twice).
However, Kamworor's star rose after finishing second - 14 seconds adrift of Stanley Biwott - on his New York Marathon debut in 2015.
He returned last year to add his name to the roll call of great New York Marathon champions winning in 2:10:53, his slowest mark of the six marathons he has participated in.
"Running at New York is like running at home. It is my favorite race. The course is up and down, sometimes flat. I am used to this from my cross country background. But I want something special this year, maybe a personal best time," he added.
With a hat-trick of World Half Marathon crowns, three World Cross Country titles and he is also the reigning New York Marathon champion, Kamworor will be the athlete to beat. Compatriot and former London Marathon champ Daniel Wanjiru says Kamworor remains a threat.
"New York has big stars and it is always to focus on your own strength and use it to gain the advantage. Kamworor is a big name and he is strong," said Wanjiru.
Kamworor credits his coach former steeplechase champion Patrick Sang for his rise and success in road racing.
"I knew Eliud (Kipchoge) was a great athlete but what I have really learned from him is the value of hard-work and discipline and how you treat yourself as an athlete," said Kamworor.
The training group under Sang has Kipchoge, Uganda's Stephen Kiprotich, Chicago Marathon silver medalist Abel Kirui, Augustine Choge among other top names.
