NAIROBI, March 4 (Xinhua) -- Former London marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru will spare no efforts on Sunday during the Vitality London Big Half.

Wanjiru who trains in Kerugoya, near Nyeri, hopes to have a successful 2019 after failing to defend his crown in London and finishing fifth in New York last year.

Wanjiru, together with Berlin marathon bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang, will head to London on Sunday for the half marathon race to tune up for the London marathon in April. In both races, they will clash with Chicago marathon champion Mo Farah.

"I have done my training well and I'm looking forward to a good competition where I want to be in the podium as a winner," said Wanjiru on Monday.

Having recovered from a knee injury he picked in April during the London Marathon, Wanjiru feels he is in the right shape to go for gold in both races.

"I was disappointed when I picked a knee-injury during the London Marathon which made me finish eighth. I have fully recovered now and I will be ready to tackle the field which looks competitive," said Wanjiru.

"I have been training in Embu and Kirinyaga areas, which have high altitude just like in Iten and Kaptagat areas. It has given me good results before and I'm going for victory," he added.

Farah will be looking to defend the title he won last year.

However, Kipsang, 36, believes he is still as a strong as when he broke the world record back in 2013 clocking two hours three minutes and 23 seconds.

"The opportunity to come back to London is a great privilege for me," said Kipsang. "I hope to do well in the race."

The aim of The Vitality Big Half is to create an event that truly reflects the boroughs and neighborhoods it passes through and to encourage more people, from all backgrounds, to take up running.

Wanjiru holds a half marathon best time of 59:20, which he set in Prague in 2016 while Kipsang's best over the 21km distance is 58:59 from Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates almost a decade ago.

Wanjiru rose to stardom in 2017 when he emerged from, obscurity to win the London marathon clocking 2:05:48 before finishing eighth during the World Championships, four months later, also London. Enditem