Kenya’s Kipsang ready for New York Marathon

Nairobi, Oct 11 (IANS) Despite his failure to finish the Berlin Marathon last month, Kenya's Wilson Kipsang has confirmed he will compete at the New York Marathon on November 5.

Speaking from Iten on Wednesday, Kipsang said he is in good shape and relaxed ahead of the New York Marathon, where he will come up against compatriots and world half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor and Lucas Rotich, reports Xinhua news agency.

"I am very happy to confirm I will be running the New York Marathon in a few weeks," said Kipsang.

At stake in New York will be the first finisher prize money of $100,000 with a time bonus of $25,000 also up for grabs.

In Berlin last month, Kipsang who was gunning for the world record, failed and had to stop by the 30 kilometres mark. However, he has suddenly made a recovery and has his eyes set on conquering the New York Marathon course.

"My training was excellent before Berlin, but I had a bad day there," Kipsang said. "Now, I am very happy and thankful I was given a chance to use my training effort in New York, and will try to win there as I did three years ago."

Kipsang will join a previously announced professional athlete field that represents 29 different countries and now includes 12 past champions, 22 Olympians and 20 Paralympians.

They will toe the line with defending champions Ghirmay Ghebreslassie of Eritrea while Mary Keitany of Kenya will lead the women's race.

Kipsang, 35, won the New York Marathon in 2014 on his debut, taking the tape in 2:10:59 hours, just seven seconds ahead of Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa.

This year, Kipsang has set a new course record of 2:03:58 at the Tokyo Marathon with his first-place finish in February.