Kenyan marathon team takes shape

London Marathon champions Eliud Kipchoge and Jemimah Sumgong will lead Kenya’s marathon assault at the Rio Olympic Games.

Kipchoge, who is also the reigning Berlin Marathon champion and Sumgong, a runner-up in the Boston, Chicago and New York marathons, are part of the team of eight athletes expected to be named today by Athletics Kenya.

Kenyan men will be eyeing a second gold medal at the Olympics after the late Samuel Wanjiru won the country it’s maiden title in 2008 in Beijing. The women are chasing their first victory, Priscah Jeptoo having taken silver at the 2012 London Olympics.

“The team was named last week but we had given the athletes until Monday to confirm participation before we release the list,” said a source at Riadha House who sought anonymity .

The source said selectors wanted to avoid a repeat of the scenario seen before 2013 and 2015 World Championships where some athletes withdrew from the squad after being selected “because we were not informed prior to selection.”

The surprise inclusion in the men’s team of four is Cheranganyi MP Wesley Korir who finished fourth in Boston last month where he also won in 2012, the 2015 New York City Marathon champion Stanley Biwott who finished second in London behind Kipchoge and Paris Marathon champion Cyprian Kotut.

World record holder Dennis Kimetto and Olympic marathon bronze medallist Wilson Kipsang have been overlooked. Both failed to finish their marathon race at last year’s World Championships in Beijing.

Kipchoge, who has represented Kenya 10 times in championship events, will be making a return to the team since 2011 World Championships where he finished fourth in 5,000m, having won the World title  and claimed silver at the 2008 Olympics in 5,000m.

CLAIM FIRST VICTORY

Sumgong will team up with World Half Marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat, who finished third in London last month, World marathon silver medallist Helah Kiprop and Paris Marathon champion Visiline Jepkesho.

“I’m honoured to be selected again and I’m confident I will claim my first victory at the Olympics,” Kipchoge said yesterday. “Everybody going there wants victory but I promise to do my best.”

Kipchoge said championship events are always tricky. “I want to promise Kenyans that I will give it my best. We have a strong team that is capable of sweeping the podium places,” said Kipchoge.”

Kipchoge retained his London Marathon title in a course record time, clocking 2 honours, 03 minutes and 05 seconds to miss the world record by eight seconds on April 24, this year.

Sumgong survived a heavy fall at 37km mark to claim her first London Marathon, edging out defending champion Tigist Tufa from Ethiopia to second place.

Kipchoge, 31, smashed the course record of 2:04:29 set by Wilson Kipsang in victory in 2014.

The feat also saw Kipchoge, winner of last year’s Berlin Marathon, improve on his personal best by massive 1 minute and five seconds.

His previous time of 2:04:00 came from his victory in Berlin last year. Kipchoge’s time is now ranked second fastest marathon of all time after fellow countryman Dennis Kimetto’s world record time of 2:02:57 ran when he won the 2014 Berlin Marathon.

Team: Eliud Kipchoge, Stanley Biwott, Cyprian Kotut, Wesley Korir (Men).

Jemimah Sumgong, Helah Kiprop, Florence Kiplagat, Visiline Jepkesho.