Two times Los Angeles marathon champion John Korir has set his focus to improve on his personal best and finish on the podium at the Chicago marathon on October 9th 2022.
Korir, who won the Los Angeles marathon men’s title in 2:09.09 by improving his time from the 2:12.48 set last year with the win at the race.
He defeated compatriot Edwin Kimutai who was second in 2:10.44 in a repeat of the 2021 edition as Ethiopian Bekele Berga completed the podium in 2:15.11.
“My target is to improve on my time as well as finish at the podium. With my 2:09.09 personal best, I want to run a better race and a win will be celebrated,” said Korir.
The young brother of former Los Angeles marathon champion Wesley Korir, will be facing off with defending champion Benson Kipruto and Erick Kiptanui, who recently missed to compete at the Commonwealth Games in marathon after his name was entered wrongly into the system in Birmingham.
“This will be my first time to compete at the Chicago marathon and it has always been my dream. Remember when I won the Los Angeles marathon early this year, I said that I want to compete at Chicago and here it has come,” said Korir.
Korir, who won the race for the second time in a row, said that Chicago is on his mission to lower his time on the Chicago course just like others have done.
“I want to run 2:05 in Chicago. It has always been my dream and that dream will come to pass,” said Korir.
Korir has kept the name of his family, following in the footsteps of his elder brother Wesley who won double titles in 2009 and 2010.
Even with the campaigns, here his brother Wesley was contesting to reclaim the Cherangany Member of parliament seat; he said that he did not participate in campaigns of his brother who lost the seat.
“I have been training hard with many marathons ahead of me and I had to avoid engaging in campaigns. I really wanted to concentrate on my running career,” said Korir.
In women, former world marathon champion Ruth Chepng’etich, Celestine Chepchirchir and Vivian Kiplagat will battle in the women ‘s marathon.