Kenyan Marathon Olympic Team Selected - Mutai, Makau Won't Go

Oh, to have the problems of Athletics Kenya. With multiple world record holders and sub 2:05 marathoners to select from for the men's team, choosing the three to represent Kenya is a tricky thing.

The news has unofficially been released, with recent London champion Wilson Kipsang (with a near-course record run of 2:04:44), world champion Abel Kirui, and 25,000m and 30,000m world record holder Moses Mosop all making the team. Passed over were three world class athletes - last year’s world #1 ranked marathoner Geoffrey Mutai (who won Boston and NYC in 2011, both in course record times), world record holder Patrick Makau, and 2011 London champion Emmanuel Mutai. Makau dropped from London with a hamstring injury, and Mutai dropped from Boston...those drops may have cost them each their chances to head to London. Such a shame that the world's best won't be able to compete at the Olympics.

The women’s team, comprised of the first three women home at last Sunday’s Virgin London Marathon – Mary Keitany, Edna Kiplagat, and Priscah Jeptoo – is likely to be less controversial. Keitany has won the last two editions of the Virgin London Marathon in runaway victories.  Kiplagat won the world title last summer and was second in London, while Jeptoo was the silver medalist behind Kiplagat at the world championships last summer and came third in London.  That's a top notch squad.

It's going to be a stellar competition on Aug 5th/12th of this year. I'm booking my vacation time now to stay glued to the TV. ;-)

- SD