AK names London Olympic Games marathon team

By Gilbert Wandera

After months of waiting, Athletics Kenya has at last announced the final marathon team for 2012’s London Olympic Games.

London Marathon champion, Wilson Kipsang, won himself a place in the men’s team three days after triumphing and just a day after he had expressed his desire to be in the side.

Kipsang will represent the country alongside World champion, Abel Kirui, who managed a sixth

Wilson Kipsang' after winning the London Marathon on Sunday April 22, 2012. [Photo: Reuters]

place in London and Chicago Marathon champion, Moses Mosop, who was third in Rotterdam on April 15.

The women team has Mary Keitany, who won in London Sunday April 22, Edna Kiplagat, the current World Marathon champion and Priscah Jeptoo, the 2011 silver medalist in Daegu.

Surprisingly missing from men’s list is World marathon record holder, Patrick Makau, and 2011’s Boston marathon champion Godfrey Mutai. Makau did not finish in London Sunday April 22, while Mutai also did not finish in Boston on April 16.

Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat, while naming the squad on Wednesday, said they have sought to find out what happened to Mutai and Makau as the two have been put on standby in case any of those named in the final team drop out.

"The six we have named are the final team, but we have put Makau and Mutai on standby in case any of the men drop out. We are allowed to change the team by June 23. But this will only happen if any of the three cannot compete," he said.

Kiplagat admitted that it had been a difficult decision to come up with the final team considering the high number of athletes who have made the qualifying mark.

"We were initially supposed to name the team at the end of the month, but in order to end anxiety surrounding the process and to give the athletes enough time to start preparations, we have decided to announce the names Thursday," he said.

"We are aware that there is a lot of interest from coaches and agents who all want their athletes to be picked," he said.

Considered performance

Kiplagat said they had considered performance of the athletes over a period of time and that many people were involved in the process to make it credible.

David Leting’, who will handle the team in training, said they will begin preparations after three weeks in either Iten or Eldoret.

"We have given the athletes three weeks to recover after running in London and then we will begin preparations. We are confident that this is enough time to get in the right frame of mind to win in London," he said.

Leting said they have enough time to study the course and prepare the athletes for it.

Samuel Wanjiru was the first Kenyan to win an Olympics gold medal in Beijing four years ago.

Douglas Wakiihuri won silver in Seoul, South Korea in 1988, while Catherine Ndereba also won silver in Athens in 2004 and another silver in Beijing.

Profiles: Abel Kirui: He has proved himself as a championships runner with back to back wins in the 2009 and 2011 World Championships. His winning margin of 29 seconds last year in Daegu was the largest ever margin at the World Championships.

Moses Mosop: He won in Chicago last year after having finished runners up in Boston five months earlier. His time of 2:03:06 saw him and eventually winner Geoffrey Mutai shattering the Boston course record by nearly three minutes.

Wilson Kipsang: Kipsang won in London last Sunday in a performance that appears to have assured him of a place in the team.

Women team: Mary Keitany: She is the London Marathon champion and has been impressive in the last two years.

Priscah Jeptoo: She has won marathons in Paris and Turin and has a best time of 2:22:55. She won silver in Daegu in 2011.

Edna Kiplagat: She won the 2011 World Championships in Daegu and her second position in London on Sunday proved her consistency in the race.