Kenya presents youngest marathon squad for London Worlds on Sunday next week

Kenyan Geoffrey Kirui (centre) and Gedion Kipketer train with friend Mike Kigen (left) at the University of Eldoret grounds, a head of before leaving the country to London yesterday. 26.07.2017. PHOTOS BY PETER OCHIENG/STANDARD

Three Kenyan marathoners aged between 24 and 25 years will take on the world next Sunday at 12:55pm Kenyan time as they strive to win back the world title.

Daniel Wanjiru, the 25-year-old London Marathon winner, will lead Boston Marathon winner Geoffrey Kirui and Tokyo Marathon runner-up, Gideon Kipketer, who are both aged 24, as they depart for the English capital next Tuesday.

Despite their young age, the trio boast rich CVs in 42km running. Wanjiru, who comes from Kirinyaga County, won the 2016 Prague half marathon and Amsterdam Marathon before winning his maiden World Marathon Majors crown at London Marathon last April.

“We are really prepared to prove to the world that we are strong enough for the opposition,” Wanjiru, who shaved three minutes off his then best mark of 2:08.18 to set a new course record of 2:05.21 at Amsterdam Marathon last year, said yesterday.

He erased three-time Amsterdam Marathon winner Wilson Chebet’s course record of 2:05.36 set in 2013.

“I know most people look at me as a newcomer in the national team. But I need to prove to them that I can do it. In fact, new people like us can pull a surprise for the nation. I want to get back to London (after London Marathon win) and perform well,” he said.

Wanjiru, seven-placed at the 2014 Frankfurt Marathon, shocked the world when he won London Marathon in 2:05.56 last April and there are huge expectations as they strive to reclaim Abel Kirui’s title won in 2011 in Daegu, South Korea.

For Kipketer, he draws inspiration from his older sister, Valentine Kipketer. He boasts 2:05.51 personal best mark set in Tokyo Marathon last February.

Gideon and Valentine (2:23.41) finished third in the men’s and women’s Chicago Marathon races respectively.

Interestingly, Gideon and Valentine have won the Mumbai Marathon. Valentine won the race in 2013 while Gideon won the race in 2016.

They have also competed in the Amsterdam Marathon, where Gideon posted 2:08.14 in 2012 before Valentine won in 2:23.02 in 2013.

The two are managed by Dutchman Jos Hermens, a former track world record holder, who runs Global Sports Communications.

Kirui, third-placed at the Amsterdam Marathon last October, is the older brother of Gilbert Kirui, the 2011 World Youth 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist and 2012 World Junior 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist.