Sport | Other Sports
Wanjiru has re-written the world mark twice
Kenya's Samuel Kaman Wanjiru has made Half Marathon's his specialty and has already rewritten the record books twice.
- By M. Satya Narayan, Senior Reporter
- Published: 00:39 February 28, 2008
Abu Dhabi: Kenya's Samuel Kaman Wanjiru has made Half Marathon's his specialty and has already rewritten the record books twice.
Currently holding the record for men over the Half Marathon distance of 21 kms - 58.33 minutes set at the Ras Al Khaimah event in 2007 - Wanjiru told Gulf News he has come here to win.
The 22-year-old Wanjiru, who has been concentrating only on Half Marathon, first broke Paul Tergat's 1998 mark of 59.17 with a timing of 59.16 in 2005.
However, Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia broke that mark in Phoenix, US in 2006 (58.55), only to be dethroned by Wanjiru with his 58.33 run in The Hague.
"There are a lot of good runners in the fray but I am confident of a win here. The purse here is very good for a Half marathon and I will win it," he said.
Wanjiru, like many other Kenyans, is a world class runner at 22 but unlike most of his countrymen, trains in Asia.
"I train in Japan and that has helped me a lot. The facilities are very good there," said the Kenyan.
Wanjiru picked out countryman Patrick Macau as one of his strongest rivals.
"Macau has won the RAK Marathon this time and is in good form. Apart from him, there are many other runners including Paul Tergat. It will be a fantastic event and everyone will be going all out to win it," said Wanjiru.
Wanjiru arrived only yesterday morning and was to have a feel of the course later in the day.
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