Loroupe won’t be defending Half
Marathon title
AFP
1 November 2000 – Nairobi - World Half Marathon women's defending champion Tegla Loroupe will not be included in the Kenya squad to the 9th IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Mexico on November 12, athletics officials said here Wednesday.
But last year’s men's champion and five time World Cross Country Champion, Paul Tergat will be defending his title in the Mexican eastern resort town of Veracruz.
"Loroupe has run so many meetings. She's completely exhausted. It will be no good for her to run," Kenya Amateur Athletic Association (KAAA) spokesman Francis Nyatome said.
Loroupe, the three-time World Half-Marathon champion, failed in her bid to be the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon at the Sydney Games in September, but made a return to the course at the Great North Run half marathon in England ten days ago, where she finished runner-up to Paula Radcliffe.
Her absence will leave the three-member Kenya women's team of Susan Chepkemei, Pamela Chepchumba and Milka Chepkieng to challenge champions South Africa for the team title.
The men's team also include Joseph Kimani, Patrick Ivuti, John Wako and Philip Rugut.
