NAIROBI, Sept. 25 -- Abel Kirui was at risk of being the forgotten man of elite marathon running until he won the 2016 Chicago Marathon title.

The Kenyan, who made his name when he won the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin, had risen to be a force over the ultimate distance, defending his crown at the 2011 worlds in Daegu before winning silver at the London 2017 Olympics.

However, injury and loss of form combined to push him off the radar of elite marathon running until Oct. 9, 2016 when in brutal duel with compatriot and title-holder over the final kilometers, Dickson Chumba, Kirui prevailed in Chicago in 2:11:13.

That epic victory saw him fulfil a long held desire to finally crack America with the added bonus of winning his first world marathon majors title.

Last year, the 36-year-old to lose his title to American distance running star, Galen Rupp (2:09:20), with Kirui finishing second 30 seconds in arrears and ahead of the 2018 edition on Oct. 7, the Kenyan expressed his eagerness to reclaim his Chicago crown.

"I'd been to New York and had no luck and that's when I said to my then coach (Renato Canova) I want to try my luck in Chicago.

"I remember it was a great fight between me and Dickson. The last 2km was not easy but I remember crossing the line in front and dancing beautifully. It was fun. That day brings back many happy memories," he recalled.

In his third appearance at the "Windy City" Kirui is confident he will be right in the mix for the men's title.

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