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Athletics: Wanjiru aims high

Kenyan Olympic champion targets world record

By Rachel Griffiths Last updated: 2nd November 2009

Wanjiru: Aiming for world record

It is a hard record but I feel I am capable of doing it

Sammy Wanjiru
Quotes of the week

Sammy Wanjiru has revealed plans to smash the marathon world record currently held by Haile Gebrselassie.

Gebrselassie of Ethiopia will attempt to break his own time of two hours three minutes 59 seconds in Dubai early next year.

But Kenyan Olympic champion Wanjiru, who will turn 23 next week, insists he is capable of succeeding his rival and will attempt to do so next September at the course in Berlin where Gebrselassie, 36, originally set the mark.

"I want to defend my London Marathon title in April and then my plan is to break the world record in Berlin," said Wanjiru.

"I feel very positive that I can do it and will be concentrating and making it my main target for next year.

"It is a hard record but I feel I am capable of doing it."

Wanjiru celebrated in New York after receiving $500,000 prize money for winning the latest World Marathon Majors series following victory in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and success in London and Chicago this year.

London marathon champion Irina Mikitenko of Germany was awarded the women's title.