NAIROBI -- World marathon men's champion Luke Kibet is preparing for a possible win on the world record at September's Berlin Marathon.
Kibet is also awaiting Athletics Kenya (AK)'s word on his chances of representing Kenya at the Olympics.
"They will make their verdict on whether I will run in Beijing on Saturday but for now, my priority is to get ready for the Berlin Marathon," Kibet told the Standard after finishing tenth on 28 minutes 24.42 seconds in the men's 10,000m final at the National Championships on Saturday.
The Athletics Kenya officials have placed him on the Olympics men's marathon reserve list alongside Rotterdam marathon champion William Kiplagat.
London marathon champion Martin Lel, world half marathon record holder Samuel Wanjiru and Boston marathon winner Robert Cheruiyot were named as automatic choices for Beijing.
The former steeplechaser and marathon pacemaker won Kenya's first gold medal at last year's World Championships in Osaka.
"I want to perform well in Berlin and if possible, reclaim the marathon record for Kenya from (Haile) Gebrsellasie who set it at that race, " Kibet added.
Last year, the Ethiopian ran 2:04.26 to lower Paul Tergat's previous record of 2:04.55 set at the same Berlin course in 2003.
World road running bronze medallist Pamela Chepchumba also used the nationals held in Nairobi over the weekend to gear up for the Tokyo marathon as well as this year's world road running championships in Brazil.
"I have been training hard in Kapsait and my performance here shows that I am in good shape," the runner said.
"I am aiming at improving on my third place in Brazil and bring the road running title home," Chepchumba, who returned from a two year doping suspension to claim bronze in Udine, Italy last year, added.
National women's 400m hurdles champion Florence Wasike also believes she has prepared well to represent the country at the Beijing Olympics.
"I am fit and feeling good. I want to qualify for the Olympics at the trials," said Wasike, who ran 56.86 to defend her 400m hurdles title. Her winning time is 1.26 minutes shy of Beijing's A standard of 55.60.
