Kenya's 'Marathon King' Inspires Runners After Beating World Record
Kenyan marathon runner Eliud Kipchoge
is spurring young athletes to follow in his footsteps after breaking his own
world record Sunday in Berlin.
Cheers erupted from the crowd Sunday at Nairobi's Karura Forest
as they watched Kipchoge race on TV. The watch party followed an amateur
marathon organized by the Friends of Karura Forest to celebrate their 25th
anniversary.
Karanja Njoroge, a past chairman of the conservation group who serves on its board, called Kipchoge's win "absolutely magnificent."
"Everybody went wild," Njoroge said of the crowd at
the watch party. "Seeing the guy was way ahead. Everybody felt so elated
by the efforts of our king of athletics, Eliud Kipchoge."
Kipchoge's new record, 30 seconds faster than his previous world record set in Berlin in 2018, is now two hours, one minute and nine seconds. Njoroge called it an inspiration.
"I think it encourages people. Gives people hope. And even
those who would never compete begin to believe, because this guy is 37 years
old and he's breaking world records," Njoroge said.
Barnabas Korir, an executive member of Athletics Kenya, the
governing body for track and field sports, agreed.
"He's inspired the youth, but not only the youth but
particularly all the athletes from Kenya," Korir said. "You know
Kipchoge is one of the few athletes who is completely determined. He's also
very focused."
Korir, who is also chairman of youth development at Athletics
Kenya, said camps have been set up nationwide to encourage sports.
"We got the support from the government to do that and in
the last 3 years, Eliud Kipchoge talk to the athletes when they were in the
camps," Korir said. "So, this is an opportunity for us now to give
our athletes a symbol that they can do well if they remain focused, if they
work hard."
Kipchoge has won 15 out of his 17 career marathons, including
two Olympic gold medals.
VOA
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