Reigning and immediate former world marathon champions, Dennis Kimetto (right) and Wilson Kipsang pose outside the London bridge ahead of the the city’s marathon. They were both included in the provisional team for the Worlds.
NAIROBI, May 25 – World marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto, his predecessor Wilson Kipsang and women’s defending champion, Edna Kiplagat were included in the provisional squd for the August Beijing World Championships released by Athletics Kenya on Monday.
Others in the men’s list are reigning Paris marathon winner, Mark Korir Hamburg champion, Lucas Kimeli Rotich, Felix Kipchirchir Kiprotich and Luka Lokobe Kanda likely to slot in as a reserve.
“AK will have a meeting with the athletes and the technical team June 3 at Riadha House to discuss further details regarding the training program and the preparations for the team,” the federation said in a statement that made the announcement.
Volare Sport training partners Kimetto and Kipsang are in line for their first joint appearance in the national team after their first head-to-head over the distance at the April 26 London Marathon was overshadowed by former world 5000m champion, Eliud Kipchoge.
Kenya will be looking to reclaim her title last won by two-time champion Abel Kirui in 2011 from the hands of Olympic champion, Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich who took it in Moscow two years ago.
Notably missing is Kipchoge, 30, who ran the world leading 2:04:42 for victory in London depose Kipsang (2:04:47) in second as Kimetto (2:05:50) who later complained of a muscle strain limped home for third.
Incidentally, titleholder Kiprotich, Kipchoge and Rotich, the 2:07:17 Hamburg champion are all trained by Patrick Sang with the latter seeking a second medal with Kenya having won bronze at the 2008 World Cross in Edinburgh as a junior.
Korir, 30, who stormed to his career best 2:05:49 in the French capital with victory on April 12, Felix Kiprotich, 27, the second finisher (2:06:59) at the Seoul Marathon and Luka Luboke, the likely reserve who was second in Paris in 2:07:20 round off the men’s team of six.
Kiplagat will be seeking to win the women’s title for an unprecedented third time in a row despite coming from a disappointing outing in London Marathon in an 11th finish in 2:27:16 to break the record she shares with Catherine ‘The Great’ Ndereba who won it in 2003 and 07 in Paris and Osaka.
New York Marathon runner-up, Jemimah Sumgong who clocked 2:24:23 for sixth in London, Tokyo silver medallist Helah Kiprop, 30, who raced to a lifetime best of 2:24:03 in February, Visiline Jepkesho, 27, the Paris third finisher (2:24:44) and Janet Jelagat, 26, who ran 2:26:31 for fourth in Prague completing the women’s interim list for Beijing.
The federation overlooked stellar campaigners of the recent past including Olympics and Worlds (2011) silver medallist, Pricah Jeptoo, former Boston winner and Worlds bronze medallist (2011) Sharon Cherop and two-time London and New York titleholder, Mary Keitany who was forced to accept second in the Britisha capital by surprise winner, Ethiopia’s Tigist Tufa.
PROVISIONAL TEAM
Men
- Wilson Kipsang
- Dennis Kimetto
- Mark Korir
- Felix Kipchichir Kiprotich
- Lucas Kimeli Rotich
- Luka Lokobe Kanda
Women
- Edna Kiplagat
- Jemimah Jelagat Sumgong
- Helah Kiprop
- Visiline Jepkesho
- Janet Jelagat Rono
