By John Kwoba
NAIROBI, March 21 (Xinhua) -- World Marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto of Kenya is hopeful to reignite his career after three years of injuries as he returns to action at the Vienna Marathon on April 22.
Kimetto, who has not won a marathon since 2015, has opted to snub both London and Boston marathons to test his body reaction to extreme competition in Vienna.
In the last three years, Kimetto has only succeeded to finish two marathons, both in London, which left many question on whether his running career had come to a stop.
"It is always hard to get up and return to action after months of hard work ends up with another injury," he said on Wednesday from Eldoret.
"However, I was able to train without injuries for a good period, which has raised my hopes and conviction I will do well in Vienna," he said.
Kimetto's last race was in Chicago in 2016, where he did not finish. He has tried several half marathon races without big success, but that has not dampened his spirits as he seeks to take his career off the rocks in 2018.
"I believe in my capabilities and want to show a strong performance in Vienna. If conditions are good then I want to attack the course record. The most important thing is that after several disappointing races in the last two years I can achieve a good marathon result again," he added.
Kimetto came to light when he won the Nairobi marathon and went on to secure the Ras Al Khaimah half marathon in the United Arab Emirates.
He then clinched gold at the Berlin Half Marathon with 59:14, which remains his personal best and broke the world record in Berlin in 2014 clocking two hours two minutes and 57 seconds to shave 26 seconds off the record set by compatriot Wilson Kipsang in 2013, also in Berlin.
"Dennis wants to show something in Vienna. I hope that the final part of his preparations will also go well. He is an athlete of extraordinary quality. After he ran his world record in Berlin physical problems started. I think the race in Berlin took a lot out of his body," said Kimetto's Dutch manager Gerard van de Veen.
"We suggested to him to run in Vienna because we have good experience with the event and the course is fine for running a good time," he added. Enditem
