L. MathekaStar marathoners pull out of Team Kenya for the World Championships
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 14.06.23. | 19:42
The initial team had been named on 2 June, 78 days before the start of the championship
London Marathon champion and second fastest marathoner in the world Kelvin Kiptum and women’s world marathon record holder Brigid Kosgei have withdrawn from World Championships’ marathon teams.
Joining the list of runners who have opted out of the team for other lucrative races is three-time world half marathon champion and London silver medalist Geoffrey Kamworor as well as Valencia bronze medalist Sheila Chepkurui.
The four had been named as part of a strong line up for the classic distance for the August competition on 2 June alongside 2022 Amsterdam Marathon silver medalist Titus Kipruto and Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru. The two have maintained their places.
With the quartet’s exit Barcelona marathon silver medalist Selly Kaptich and Enschede Marathon champion Shyline Jepkorir complete the women’s team with Commonwealth Games silver medalist Margaret Wangari maintaining her reserve position joined by Betty Chepkwony.
In the men’s team Kipruto will have Rotterdam Marathon silver medalist Timothy Kiplagat and Hamburg Marathon silver medalist Joshua Belet for company as Commonwealth bronze medalist Michael Githae remains as a reserve alongside Bethwel Kibet.
Athletics Kenya director of competitions Paul Mutwii says the athletes have opted to feature in other marathon set for after the World Championships.
“It is their choice and there is little you can do about that. It is their right to make whatever change they want even without giving us reasons," said Mutwii, told Daily Nation from Eldoret where the new team was unveiled.
“Marathon is a complex event which requires its own training and has different training times. We have let the athletes train on their own but our technical team will be following closely on their programs," Mutwii added.
Kenya has not won the men’s marathon at the World Games since Geoffrey Kirui triumphed in London 2017 while Ruth Chepngetich won the 2019 edition in Doha.
