Makau upbeat to break record in Berlin

By Joseph Ngure and IAAF

World Marathon record holder Patrick Makau will be racing in Frankfurt on Sunday with the possibility of bettering his 2:03.38 set in Berlin last year.

It would be interesting to see the star putting aside his frustrations for the Olympic bid and prove a point or two in the Germany city in the BMW marathon which fellow Kenyan Wilson Kipsang missed the record by 4 seconds last year.

The runners would be enjoying the advantage of favourable weather conditions and equitable pace-making, and the likely outcome is another very fast time for Patrick Makau.

Makau, 27, has been the world’s fastest marathoner for the past two years, the second of which was the World record 2:03:38 he ran in Berlin 13 months ago, during which he disposed of previous record holder, Haile Gebrselassie in exemplary fashion

“I had a small injury in London, and dropped out to save myself for the Olympics,” said Makau, on arrival in Frankfurt on Friday morning.

“I had been promised an Olympic place, so felt I was doing the right thing. I was ready for it the games, so I couldn’t understand why they dropped me. I was very disappointed, but there was nothing I could do about it”.

Makau’s only race since then was the Tilburg 10 miles, in the Netherlands on September 2, when he ran a personal best 45:41, to finish third.

According to manager Zane Branson, Makau closed with a 2:38 final kilometre, but felt he didn’t need to over extend himself against colleagues Pius Kirop and John Mwangangi.

Makau went to Frankfurt for a press conference a month ago, and surveyed the course with approbation.

“I can’t talk about a World record, but anything is possible. To be World record holder is good for me, it gives me more energy. Everything has been going well in training, my speed work and my long runs. My body is okay, so I’m hoping for good results.”