Marathon Squad for London 2012

Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany lead the Kenyan team for London 2012

Wilson Kipsang leads Kenyan Marathon team to London

It was always going to be a more difficult task for Athletics Kenya to decide who to leave out than whom to select for the London Olympic Games to represent Kenya in the marathon.

Below is the Men’s and Women’s team to represent Kenya in London 2012.

Kenyan Olympic team

Wilson Kipsang
Since making his debut with a third-place finish in Paris two years ago, Kipsang has won all of his marathons, most recently in London last weekend with a 2:04:40 victory. Ran the second-fastest time in history with his 2:03:42 win in Frankfurt last October.

Abel Kirui
Set his PB of 2:05:04 in Rotterdam 2009, but was still a relative unknown at that point. He went on to win the world title that year smashing the championship record with 2:06:54. Followed it up with another world title two years later in Daegu. Like Kipsang and Mosop, he is coached by Renato Canova.

Moses Mosop
Debuted in Boston last year with 2:03:06 behind Geoffrey Mutai, both clocking the two fastest times in history, albeit on a downhill course. Went on to win the Chicago Marathon in October, then finished third and top Kenyan in this year’s Rotterdam Marathon. Has run no slower than 2:05:37.

Women

Priscah Jeptoo
Won three low-key marathons between 2009-2011 before winning World Championships silver in Daegu last year. Smashed her PB by more than two and a half minutes in London last weekend to finish third with 2:20:14.

Mary Keitany
Had established herself as the world’s best half-marathon runner before moving up to the marathon. After an unspectacular 2:29:01 debut in New York, she won the 2011 London Marathon in 2:19:19. Improved on that last weekend to defend her title with an African record of 2:18:36, making her the third-fastest woman in history.

Edna Kiplagat
A former junior prodigy who has progressed very steadily into the senior ranks as a marathon runner. Won the 2010 New York title, then became world champion in 2011, leading a Kenyan sweep of the medals. Improved her PB to 2:19:50 when finishing second to Keitany last weekend in London.