Kenya’s CyBrian Kotut, 32, finished in second place at his Berlin Marathon debut this weekend, clocking a new personal best time of 2:03:22 in only his second appearance at the World Marathon Majors.
Speaking to Telecomasia.net after the performance in Berlin, where he finished five seconds behind eventual winner Mengesha Milkesa from Ethiopia, Kotut says his second place finish, which was a surprise for him, has boosted his motivation to keep going over the distance.
At the start, I didn’t want to push in too much and go with the leading group. I had trained well, but I first wanted to test myself in the first few kilometers. But moving forward I felt a bit strong, and I encouraged myself to stick with the leaders. It paid dividends at the end of it and I finished second with a PB. This is a massive boost for me because it was only the second time I was doing a major marathon. It has built a lot of belief in me.
Kotut, younger brother to former three-time London Marathon winner Martin Lel, made his majors debut in Boston in April this year, where he finished in ninth place. Moving up to a second place finish in Berlin, he says, has revved up his desire for more success:
I hope to do more of these Majors because I have measured myself up and I believe I can compete with the big boys. The belief is there and the hunger is there.
The Kenyan long-distance runner has previously had success in marathons in Hamburg, Florence and Paris.
