Stephen Kiprotich sets sights on Great North double
Stephen Kiprotich has been confirmed for July's Bupa Great North 10km and the Bupa Great North Run in September as he looks to return to his winning ways.
Last year the Ugandan added the world marathon title to his Olympic gold claimed the year before. Returning to the British capital this April he had to be satisfied with 12th in a London Marathon won by Kenya's world record-holder Wilson Kipsang in a course record.
Organisers say the 25-year-old is looking to use the 10km event in Gateshead on July 13 as a stepping stone to the Great North Run over the half marathon distance on September 7. Kiprotich is the first major name confirmed for the 2014 Bupa Great North Run, with last year's event won by Ethiopian long-distance great Kenenisa Bekele from double world and Olympic track champion Mo Farah, with Haile Gebrselassie a gallant third.
A return to racing was also reported for Farah, the 31-year-old having withdrawn from last month's Bupa London 10,000 as he was not then race-ready following his marathon debut in London. OregonLive.com reported how Farah is to run 5000m at the Portland Track Festival on June 15.
"The Bupa Great North 10k Gateshead will give Stephen the chance to get his confidence back," said Pete Riley, elite athlete manager for the Bupa Great North events. "Since winning his world and Olympic titles, he's focused on big city marathons and hasn’t really been ready for them. His management and coaching team just want him to get back into winning ways again.
"It’s also a stepping stone to the Bupa Great North Run for Stephen. He’ll get a feel of the atmosphere he can expect in September and he’ll get an opportunity to see the course."
