NAIROBI, Sept. 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Geoffrey Kamworor warned his rivals that he's ready to reclaim his New York title later this year by breaking the world record in Denmark to win the Copenhagen Half marathon on Sunday, clocking 58.01 minutes.
Kamworor will next turn his focus to the New York marathon on Nov. 1 by hoping to reclaim the title he lost last year to Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa.
"It is very emotional for me to set this record. And doing it in Copenhagen, where I won my first world title, adds something to it," Kamworor said.
Kamworor, 26, passed up the chance to compete at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar (Sept 28 - Oct.6) to compete in Copenhagen and his action was vindicated as he successfully accomplished his bid to improve on the world record of 58:18 set in Valencia last year by Abraham Kiptum.
His training partner and world marathon record holder Eliud Kipchoge (2:01.39) said he is happy for his achievement and great planning.
"I must say that it is a huge congratulation to Kamworor. I am so proud to see him run and set the world record. It was down to great planning, preparations, teammates, coaching and management. That is the recipe for world record-breaking," said Kipchoge.
Five other men finished inside 60 minutes with Bernard Kipkorir taking second place in 59:16 from Ethiopia's Berehanu Wendemu Tsegu (59:22) and Edwin Kiprop Kiptoo (59:27).
Now Kamworor will head to New York buoyed by his big performance as he faces Desisa and fellow Ethiopian Shura Kitata.
Desisa also has two Boston Marathon titles to his name, having won in 2013 and 2015.
