Wednesday, 23 April 2008

Kenyan selects high status squad to seek elusive Olympic gold in Beijing

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wins the 2007 World Marathon title in Osaka (Bongarts/Getty Images)

Catherine Ndereba of Kenya wins the 2007 World Marathon title in Osaka (Bongarts/Getty Images)

relnews

    • Martha Komu wins the women's race at the 2008 Paris Marathon
    • Rita Jeptoo wins the women's race of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon
    • Robert Cheruiyot sailing to Boston Marathon victory No. 4
    • Martin Lel wins his third Flora London Marathon title
    • Samuel Wanjiru wins the 21st Mitja Marató de Granollers

    Nairobi, Kenya - Kenya’s marathon medal prospects for the Beijing Olympics received their strongest possible confidence boost today after Athletics Kenya selected its top runners for this summer’s Games in China.

    While making the much-awaited announcement, Athletics Kenya president Isaiah Kiplagat, an IAAF Council Member, declared “Kenya has not won a single gold medal in the Olympics. Our time has now come. We are going for nothing short of double Olympic glory in the marathon this summer”

    Lel, Wanjiru, Cheruiyot – deadly combination

    The men’s squad is composed of three-time London Marathon champion Martin Lel, World Half Marathon record holder Sammy Wanjiru, and multiple Boston Marathon champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot.

    Lel on Sunday 13 April set a new course record in London ( 2:05:15), with Wanjiru in runners–up spot also under 2:06.

    Robert Cheruiyot’s celebrations will continue long into the week after getting the third team slot for the games. His inclusion in the Olympic squad following his fourth win at Boston last Monday (2:07:46) completes, in the words of Athletics Kenya, a “deadly combination to break the Olympics marathon jinx.”

    William Kipsang, who ran away with the Rotterdam Marathon title just a week ago, setting a new course record of 2:05:49, has been included as a reserve, as has the reigning World Marathon champion Luke Kibet.

    Golden chance for Ndereba, Kosgei, and Komu

    Two-time World marathon champion and 2004 Olympics silver medallist Catherine “the great” Ndereba currently out of the country in intensive training, Salina Kosgei who this year has top half marathons in Ras Al Khaimah and Lisbon and was fourth in the London Marathon (2:26:30), and Martha Komu, the surprise winner of this year’s Paris marathon, who smashed  her personal best by seven minutes to 2:25:33, make up the women’s line-up for Kenya.

    The Beijing squad also includes 2006 Boston marathon champion Rita Jeptoo as a reserve.

    Saddique Shaban - Kenya television Network ‘KTN’ - for the IAAF

    Team

    Men

    Martin Lel
    Sammy Wanjiru
    Robert Cheruiyot

    Reserves:
    Luke Kibet
    William Kipsang


    Women

    Catherine Ndereba
    Martha Komu
    Salina Kosgei

    Reserve:
    Rita Jeptoo