NAIROBI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- Former world and Olympic steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be making his marathon debut in Hamburg on Sunday.
With the 37-year-old having carved a splendid career on track in the water and hurdle race, many fans will be eager to see how he will take up the new challenge running the longer 42km distance against some of the strongest and fastest marathon runners.
"I have already won the Olympics, Worlds, Commonwealth Games and Africa title," Kemboi said on Friday. "What remains is to venture into the new territory and see where I rank. It will determine how long my career will be on athletics," he said.
Kemboi has immersed himself in long run trainings in Eldoret and hopes he will emerge in the German city with an enhanced reputation to stamp his foot on the marathon circuit.
Kemboi has only raced one 10km road race last year in Italy which he won, but has no experience in half or full marathon course.
"There is a moment for every new start. I will seize my chance and see how I fare. I don't care who I will be up against," he said.
However, there will be no shortage of rivals for the Kenyan. His compatriot and former two-time world champion Abel Kirui and Uganda's former world and Olympic champion Stephen Kiprotich are among the leading entrants for the Hamburg Marathon.
Other standout entrants in the men's race include Ethiopians Ayele Abshero (2:04:23) and Tadu Abate (2:06:47) and Kenya's Laban Korir (2:05:54).
Kiprotich, the 2012 Olympic and 2013 world marathon champion, will return to the northern German port city for the third time, after finishing second in 2017 and fifth in 2018.
The 29-year-old, who is the national record holder at 2:06:33, clocked sub-2:08 performances in both of his Hamburg appearances.
The fastest runner on the start list is Ayele Abshero, who clocked 2:04:23 in his marathon debut at the 2012 Dubai Marathon. The Ethiopian returns after finishing third last year.
Kirui, the world champion over the distance in 2009 and 2011, has already announced his intention of chasing the course record of 2:05:30, which was set by Eliud Kipchoge in his marathon debut in 2013.
"I'm focusing so much on Hamburg Marathon because I want to break the course record on Sunday," Kirui said.
The 36-year-old former Olympic silver medalist from London 2012 said he is gearing to regain his top form as he seeks to run one of his fastest races. Kirui holds a personal best time of 2:05:04 from Rotterdam almost 10 years ago.
"It will be a big challenge for me as I will be preparing to beat Eliud Kipchoge course record. It will be a big show and I welcome fans to cheer me on," he said.
Compatriots Jonathan Korir and Amos Mitei, who have personal bests of 2:06:51 and 2:07:28 respectively, are also among the title favorites.
Japan's Taku Fujimoto, who clocked his personal best of 2:07:57 at the Chicago Marathon in 2018, will also be in the race.
