Kibet ready to push Gebrselassie in Berlin marathon

BERLIN (Reuters) - Kenyan Duncan Kibet believes he can lower his personal best and challenge the domination of world record holder Haile Gebrselassie in Sunday's Berlin marathon.

Kibet, the second fastest man behind the Ethiopian, ran a stunning two hours, four minutes and 27 seconds to win the Rotterdam marathon in April, the leading time this year and only 28 seconds off Gebrselassie's world record time set in Berlin last year.

Gebrselassie has set consecutive world records in 2007 and 2008 on what is considered the fastest marathon course in the world.

"When I went to Vienna, I wanted to run 2.10, and I did 2.08.33," Kibet, 31, told reporters on Thursday.

"When I went to Rotterdam this year, I thought I was capable of high 2.05, low 2.06, and I did 2.04:27. (In Berlin) I want to do better than that, I want to run a personal best."

Both athletes skipped the World athletics championships in Berlin last month to focus on their marathon preparations with Gebrselassie setting his sights on yet another world record.

While the 36-year-old Ethiopian is an established force in long-distance running, having won Olympic and world championship gold medals, his younger challenger never planned to become a runner.

"I never even thought about being a runner," he said. "All we did at school was run on sports day, that was it. And when I broke my leg (at 16), it never crossed my mind. I was scared to run. But my brother encouraged me, and gradually, I saw I could do it."

(Editing by Justin Palmer)