Former Chicago marathon champion Abel Kirui will be returning to the South Korea for this year’s Daegu Marathon set for Sunday 2nd April.
The two time World marathon champion will be returning to the course after 14 years to compete againt, the course that he won the world marathon title in 2009.
“After finishing 5th at the Fukuoka marathon on December 4th, because of my poor preparations after being on duty as a police officer during elections, I did not perform well. After Fukuoka I was given the Daegu marathon and I have had a good time in preparing. I was to compete in Vienna but Daegu marathon organizers were interested in me, telling me that they need me back after about 14 years so the management organised for the race,” said Kirui.
Kirui finished 5th behind Maru Teferi of Israel (2:06:43), Kenyan Vincent Raimoi (2:07:01), Kenyan Michael Githae (2:07:28) Brett Robinson (Australia) in 2:07:31 before Kiruni coming in 5th at 2:07:38.
The 2012 Olympic marathon silver medalist will be leaving the country on Wednesday evening to Daegu, saying it will be exciting that life is rotating and completing the cycle before hanging his spikes after 20 years running shows across the world.
“It is like I am completing the revolution that is why I am focusing on running very well. After Daegu, I want to run in Chicago, go to Tokyo, then the Olympic Games next year in Paris, then go back to Berlin where I started and say bye bye to sports. I need to make a 20 year run, go where I began my marathon. I began a marathon in Berlin in 2006 when I paced for Haile Gebreslassie then I decided to finish, it was so painful because I finished at position 9 and I did not finish last,” said Kirui.