NAIROBI, Oct. 4 (Xinhua) -- Former London marathon bronze medalist Bedan Karoki has allayed fears over his injuries as he heads to USA in bid to conquer the Chicago course on Sunday.
The World Half Marathon silver medalist had to be rushed through rehabilitation after he picked an ankle injury at the Argentina's Buenos Aires Half Marathon in August where he finished second in 59 minutes 50 seconds.
"I took time off to recover from the exhaustion," said Karoki, who jetted out to Chicago on Wednesday night.
"I then realized of the ankle pain and had it looked at. The doctors told me it is okay and I believe I have run it off in training. It will not be a setback to my plans in Chicago."
"I have fully recovered from the injury. Now I'm fit again," added Karoki.
Olympic champion Mo Farah will be on parade challenging the race defending champion Galen Rupp, Kenyans Dickson Chumba (2:04:32) and Abel Kirui (2:05:04), both former champions in Chicago.
There is also world champion Geoffrey Kirui (2:06:27), who won the Boston Marathon last year, before relinquishing his title to finish second this year under windy and rainy conditions.
Upcoming marathon runners like Kenneth Kipkemoi, Stephen Sambu and Augustine Choge are all training their guns on winning the title too. However, Paris marathon champion Paul Lonyangata has pulled out with a knee injury.
"I run my own race. I have plans and tactics to use and hopefully, I will emerge winner," he said.
Karoki is yet to win a marathon despite having competed in four previous occasions. He was third in London in 2017, fourth at the Fukuoka marathon and settled for fifth in this year's London marathon timing at 2:08:34.
This year won the Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon in United Arab Emirates clocking 58:42 in February and was second at the World Half marathon in Valencia in March. Enditem
