DAY 3: London World Championships notebook
Jack Waiyaki (right), a London-based Kenyan, and a friend root for the men's marathon team at the 2017 IAAF World Championships on Tower Bridge on August 6, 2017. PHOTO | ELIAS MAKORI | NATION MEDIA GROUP
Kenyan athletes spread peace
*****
On Sunday, Kenyan athletes competing here were quite keen to see peaceful elections back home on Tuesday. “We have given you the gold medal and made Kenya celebrated globally. Now you should, in turn, ensure that the elections are peaceful... we have a great country that we should be proud of,” men’s marathon gold medal winner Geoffrey Kirui said, his message echoed by 2017 London Marathon champion Daniel Wanjiru who wound up eighth.
Not all here are athletics fans
*****
The marathon start and finish location was one huge party on Sunday. But not all at this address were following the 42km races, as some were keen on the sprinkling of pubs that served draft beer in the open air, punctuated with appetizing barbecue joints. Some were here to follow the Community Shield game between Chelsea and Arsenal on large screens.
GSC tops 42kms medal honours
****
Global Sports Communications, the athlete management stable based in The Netherlands, has produced winners of the men’s marathon since 2009 (Berlin).
Abel Kirui (2009-Beijing, 2011-Daegu), Stephen Kiprotich (Uganda, 2013 in Moscow), Ghirmay Ghebreselassie (Eritrea, 2015 in Beijing) and yesterday’s winner Geoffrey Kirui are all from GSC, represented here by Valentijn Trouw. GSC also manage Eliud Kipchoge and Kenenisa Bekele, among others.
