No world record attempt for Makau in Frankfurt

 NAIROBI, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- World marathon record holder¹ Patrick Makau has ruled out attacking the world record when he lines up at the Frankfurt marathon on Oct. 28.

Makau, who is eying to bounce back after he was overlooked by the Kenyan authorities in selection of the Olympic marathon team, has picked on the German's second biggest race over Berlin and Chicago. He set a world record last year in Berlin of 2:03.38.

"The race in Frankfurt is confirmed. I have made up my mind where to run and I want to win, though running a world record is not in my plans," he said Thursday in Nairobi.

"I will attempt to lower down the time in another marathon but not in Frankfurt. The course there is fast and many will be tempted² to do it, but I know it is not easy to break the world record."

Organizers of Germany's oldest city marathon, which will see its 31st edition, said they got the jewel in marathon crown in luring³ Makau, 27 to compete in Frankfurt.

"It is an honour for us that such an outstanding athlete has chosen to run at the Frankfurt marathon," said Race Director Jo Schindler.

Makau (2:03.38) broke the marathon world record in Berlin, beating superstar Haile Gebrselassie 2:03.59 mark.

The Ethiopian had entered the race as the world record holder, but Patrick Makau improved that mark by 21 seconds.

However a couple of weeks later in Frankfurt Makau had to sweat over his record where compatriot Wilson Kipsang clocked a course record of 2:03:42, just missing the mark by a mere⁴ four seconds.

Frankfurt race will be the eighth marathon in Makau's career. Makau started seven high profile road races in Germany and won all of them.

"I was disappointed for not making the Olympics. I can't fault the selection criteria⁵ of Athletics⁶ Kenya, but they took so much for granted and were not keen on the small issues."

"The Olympics are not like any other marathons, underdogs have their chances to claim the limelight and that is why Kenyans were surprised by the Ugandan in London. However a silver and bronze is not easy to get and we must be happy for that achievement," said Makau.

He warned that in future competitions, Kenya must be watchful⁷ on burning out as some of the athletes in London had competed in too many a race and could not respond when they were called to do so in the finals.

"At the Olympics, past records count for nothing and Kenyans better realize that. We need to dust up and focus on the future and hopefully we will get it right this time round," he said.

Kenya, which had athletes in four disciplines, could only get medals in track and field amassing⁸ 11 - two gold, four silver and five bronze.

1 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

2 tempted   

v.怂恿（某人）干不正当的事；冒…的险（tempt的过去分词）

参考例句：

• I was sorely tempted to complain, but I didn't. 我极想发牢骚，但还是没开口。
• I was tempted by the dessert menu. 甜食菜单馋得我垂涎欲滴。

3 luring   

吸引，引诱（lure的现在分词形式）

参考例句：

• Cheese is very good for luring a mouse into a trap. 奶酪是引诱老鼠上钩的极好的东西。
• Her training warned her of peril and of the wrong, subtle, mysterious, luring. 她的教养警告她：有危险，要出错儿，这是微妙、神秘而又诱人的。

4 mere   

adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过

参考例句：

• That is a mere repetition of what you said before.那不过是重复了你以前讲的话。
• It's a mere waste of time waiting any longer.再等下去纯粹是浪费时间。

5 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

6 athletics   

n.运动，体育，田径运动

参考例句：

• When I was at school I was always hopeless at athletics.我上学的时候体育十分糟糕。
• Our team tied with theirs in athletics.在田径比赛中，我们队与他们队旗鼓相当。

7 watchful   

adj.注意的，警惕的

参考例句：

• The children played under the watchful eye of their father.孩子们在父亲的小心照看下玩耍。
• It is important that health organizations remain watchful.卫生组织保持警惕是极为重要的。

8 amassing   

v.积累，积聚( amass的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The study of taxonomy must necessarily involve the amassing of an encyclopaedic knowledge of plants. 分类学研究一定要积累广博的植物知识。 来自辞典例句
• Build your trophy room while amassing awards and accolades. 建立您的奖杯积累奖项和荣誉。 来自互联网