Kenyan coaches tip Kipchoge to break world marathon record

Kenyan coaches have tipped the reigning Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge to break the world marathon record in the next one year.

Team Kenya head coach Julius Kirwa and veteran long distance trainer David Letting noted that Kipchoge, who clocked 2 hours, 00minutes and 25 seconds while attempting to break the 2 hours mark on the Monza National Autodrome racing circuit on Saturday, was on course to break the world record.

Kipchoge, who narrowly failed in his attempt to complete the distance under the mythical two-hour mark, smashed the world record of 2hr 02min 57sec set by Dennis Kimetto of Kenya.

However, his feat will not enter the record books largely because of the non-compliant system of pacemaking used in the attempt, made on the Monza National Autodrome racing circuit.

For the entire attempt, Kipchoge ran behind a six-man pacesetting team which trailed a time-keeping vehicle by less than 10 metres.

“I strongly believe he is the man to break Kimetto’s record if he is to put into preparations similar efforts he put in while preparing for Monza race,” said Letting, adding that Kipchoge can only break the world record next year since he will need one month to relax after his sub 2 hours attempt.

“He can only resume his training late June and be able compete in October or November. The only other course that can bring the World record is Berlin which is held in September,” said Letting.

Kirwa shared similar sentiments adding that Kipchoge can only now prepare for the World Championships marathon and not an attempt at the World record this year.

“We shall wait for Kipchoge to return to the country and tell us what he would like but we want him in our marathon team for London World Championships,” said Kirwa. “His performance in Monza is incredible but he would like to rest,” said Kirwa adding that Kipchoge will be the man to break the world record perhaps next year.

Kirwa and Letting noted that both Kenya’s Daniel Wanjiru and Ethiopian Kenenisa Bekele, who claimed the first two places in London Marathon, were in great shape but played down their chances of breaking the world record this year.

Despite narrowly missing the mark, Kipchoge said he believed it was possible and that he could make another attempt.

Speaking trackside to Britain's Paula Radcliffe, a former three-time winner of the London marathon, Kipchoge said: "I hope next time... but I can say it's closer (possible) for a human to run under the two-hour mark."

Backed by a small army of scientists put together by sportswear giants Nike, and helped by an ever-changing battalion of pacesetters, Kipchoge set out to complete the classic marathon distance of 26.2 miles (42.195 kilometres) in 1hr 59min 59 sec or faster.

In his pursuit of sporting immortality Kipchoge had to set a ferocious pace of 4min 34sec per mile — seven seconds quicker than the world record pace set by Kimetto at the 2014 Berlin Marathon.

Requiring the sort of evolutionary leap against the clock that is usually only achieved over decades, Kipchoge started in promising fashion.

Despite being one second over the target time after five kilometres, he was clocked at five seconds under after 10 then 15 km and was still two seconds inside the target at the 25km mark.

But over the remaining third of the race, which began at 0545 local time (0345 GMT, 0645EAT) in slightly humid conditions, Kipchoge steadily began to fall behind pace.

He was clocked at over six seconds over the required pace at the 35 km mark and, over the remaining distance, began to steadily trail his pacesetters before finishing just 25 seconds over the target.