Making his debut for Kenya team, Amos Kipruto is one happy man to have been included in the marathon team ahead of IAAF World Championships in the marathon.
While making his debut at the Rome marathon in 2:08.12, Kipruto went ahead to finish second at the 2018 Berlin marathon behind winner and world record holder Eliud Kipchoge is optimistic of winning gold for Kenya at the championships set for next month in Doha, Qatar, hoping to run his personal best.
The 2 Running club athlete in Kapsabet, Nandi County also won the Seoul Marathon in 2:05.54 as his personal best in the 42km distance hoping to improve.
“I thank God for the task I have been given ahead of me to run for the Kenya team. It is good for me to represent Kenya at the world championships in Doha. This is the first time to run for Kenya and I was really waiting for this opportunity since I have been training so hard for such time to fly the country’s flag,” said Kipruto.
The runner who finished third at the 2018 Tokyo marathon in 2:06.33, said he is still in good preparations, training well with a team of club’s management and the entire athletics representatives from Athletics Kenya, hoping to run good and fruitful race in Doha will.
“If you are a good athlete you have all morale to represent your country and for me, it was actually my prayer that was answered. Am ready to go and show the entire world that if you train clean and run clean you will win clean and right,” said Kipruto during the anti-doping campaign in Eldoret.
As part of his good fortunes ahead, Kipruto wants to run a colourful race, calling for fellow athletes to shun doping.
“Nowadays as you see many cases on doping on athletes, which is a short cut to earn what he or she has not sowed. They usually say that the short cut is not the right way. I know when you train well without short-cuts your body will respond well at the championships,” added Kipruto.
On the world record chase, since he chased Eliud on his way for the world record last September he said “I know I have prepared well for the championships but the right time will come for the world record or best time. I can’t say tomorrow I will run the world record but I know I am capable of the world record. When you have that hope, one day and time I will hit that time.”
He also finished 5th at the 2017 Amsterdam marathon in 2:05.43 and 12th at the 2016 race.