On Monday, Athletics Kenya unveiled a shortlist of 10 female and male athletes who might signify the nation within the marathon on the 2024 Olympic Video games in Paris. The provisional choice checklist options distinguished names akin to two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge, world report holder Kelvin Kiptum and New York Metropolis Marathon champion Hellen Obiri. Notably absent from the checklist is Evans Chebet, the back-to-back Boston Marathon champion in 2022 and 2023.
Chebet, acknowledged as among the finest tactical marathoners on the planet, has gained his final three marathons. He recorded consecutive wins on the Boston Marathon and gained the New York Metropolis Marathon in 2022. He was slated to defend his NYC title this 12 months, however was pressured to withdraw within the weeks main as much as the race, because of damage.
Whereas Chebet’s exclusion from the Kenyan group could also be shocking, given his confirmed observe report on hilly and tactical programs, it’s value noting that the 2024 Olympic marathon course in Paris is well-suited for Chebet’s strengths. This course has an elevation acquire of greater than 400 metres throughout 42.2 kilometres and is touted to be the hilliest Olympic marathon thus far.
Group Kenya has held a agency grip on the marathon on the Olympics, profitable each males’s and ladies’s titles in Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020.
Kenyan information outlet The Nation stories that Athletics Kenya thought of world rankings and performances at this 12 months’s World Marathon Majors to type the checklist of athletes.
The Kenyan provisional males’s squad includes world report holder Kiptum, two-time Olympic champion Kipchoge, Vincent Kipkemoi, Timothy Kiplagat, 2021 Boston champion Benson Kipruto, Bernard Kiprop Koech, former NYC champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Cyprian Kotut, 2022 London Marathon champion Amos Kipruto and Titus Kipruto.
The Kenyan provisional ladies’s squad is loaded with expertise, that includes 2019 world champion Ruth Chepngetich, Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru, Joyciline Jepkosgei, Sheila Chepkirui, reigning Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir, Seley Chepyego, world championship medallist Judith Jeptum Korir, Boston and New York Metropolis Marathon champion Obiri, 2022 NYC champion Sharon Lokedi and former world report holder Brigid Kosgei.
Each males’s and ladies’s provisional groups will likely be narrowed down to 5 (three to compete and two reserves) by the tip of January.
