Eyebrows raised over Brigid Kosgei's inclusion in Kenyan marathon squad

A little under three weeks ago a statement used around Kenyan athletic circles was “I thank God I am not in the group of selectors.”

That was made in reference to Athletics Kenya’s enormous task of from a deep field of elite runners, picking a final team of men’s and women’s marathon teams that would line up in Paris in August.

And on Wednesday 1 May afternoon, the team unveiling for the Olympic Games was made.

While many correctly predicted the men’s team: including two-time Olympic champion and now going for a hattrick Eliud Kipchoge, London Marathon champion Alex Mutiso and Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto, many had lifted eyebrows on the women’s lineup.

Kipchoge, Peres headline Team Kenya marathon squad

The team of three - assuming all are fit and ready to go - are: Peres Jepchirchir, Hellen Obiri and Brigid Kosgei.

Boston Marathon champion runner-up Sharon Lokedi is serving as the reserve.

The initial thought, according to many, was that Lokedi, based on her age and ability to conquer the "tough and hilly" courses - like will be seen in Paris - would be a shoe-in together with the undoubted quality of back-to-back Boston Marathon champion Obiri and London Marathon winner Jepchirchir.

However, Kosgei was the wildcard, with her inclusion eliciting reactions from Kenyans on social media:

“The struggle for any beginner to get a better option is usually on another level. I'd have chosen Lokedi over Brigid. Let's just be honest with ourselves,” Daniel Mutunga commented on Facebook. “Brigid is often a 50/50 person. We will bank too much on her only to have her embarrass us. I pray that I'll see Lokedi on the podium.”

Tenacious Mimi said: “You people , it's okay you have put Sharon as a reservation , but you better make her run in Paris..... You can't gauge Brigid with one race, after 5 years.”

“Must Brigid be there even after having put in very little effort. What did Lokedi do to deserve mistreatment,” Shaddy Mutua added.

Similar reactions were elicited on Twitter.

“Brigid will make us lose a triple podium. Lokedi would have been a better choice,” Barasa Omwami replied to a tweet. “She is in terrible form. When did she last finish a race?”

Alex Gitonga said: “I would prefer Sharon to Brigid any day. Other than that record few years ago, she’s really struggled.”

The overarching reaction in some avenues seemed to extend to the fact that Kosgei, being a Nike athlete (that apparently sponsors Team Kenya in the Olympics), was a big reason behind her inclusion.

Hellen Obiri's triumph in Boston enough to make Olympics cut?

Other than that, one would have to look to the past experience of winning silver in the last Olympics and a World Record in 2019 - that means she still is the fastest woman in Kenya over marathon distance - as bonus points for her addition.

Plus, playing devil's advocate in response to "terrible form", lies a Lisbon Half Marathon win, and a fifth place finish in London.

Roll on Paris! Eerm.. intrigue!