Kenyan champion Korir cautious on world record, focuses on Africa Championships

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-23 10:28:02|Editor: mmm
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NAIROBI, July 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Emmanuel Korir says he will not push his body to the limit to claim compatriot and Olympic champion David Rudisha's world record on men's 800 meters, despite running 1:42.05 at the London Diamond League on Sunday.

The Kenyan, who is based in Texas, was locked out of the World Indoor Championships in Birmingham in March over a visa hitch, but has returned to England to haunt his rival, running the fastest time in the last three seasons.

His mark was so fast that many fans are already dreaming of him targeting Rudisha's world record of 1:40.91, which was set in London in his gold-winning match at the 2012 Olympic Games.

At the moment, Korir is content with his new-found form and personal best time as he returned to Nairobi to focus on the Africa Championships, which will be held in Asaba, Nigeria on Aug. 1-5.

"It is a good performance and a great boost for the Africa Championships. I missed the World Indoor Championships over reasons beyond me and will now focus on winning Kenya a gold at the Africa Championships," Korir said Sunday.

Korir, the winner in Doha and Eugene, won the 800m at the Diamond League at 1:42.05 seconds to break Rudisha's record of 1:42.91 set in 2011.

Korir also erased his previous personal best of 1:43.10 set in Monaco last year besides beating the world lead time of 1:42.14 set by Nijel Amos of Botswana as he won in Monaco on Friday.

"I am happy because that is a huge performance for me, beating my personal best set last year in Monaco," said Korir. "I wanted to break that next year but I managed to do it earlier than planned."

Korir, 23, will join Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyamal, who won in Shanghai and Rome (1:43.12) at the Africa Championships together with Ferguson Rotich.

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