AK to name men’s marathon team for global race this week

Monday, June 20th, 2022 01:05 | By

Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono reacts after winning a past event. PD/file

Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei has revealed that the final women’s and men’s marathon team will be named this week after track and field trials for Commonwealth Games and World Athletics Championships.

The Eugene Marathon is scheduled to take place on July 17th and 18th for both men and women respectively.

Tuwei, who met the team in Eldoret for the first time since they were named in April, said that the final marathon team for the world championships set for Oregon in the USA next month will be named together with track and field athletes to make a full team.

“Our final team will be named this week after track and field trials. For now, this team will be training at their various camps and after the national trials, we shall have the final team that will fly our Kenyan flag,” said Tuwei.

Best team

He added that they selected the best team because so far no one has criticised their selection.

“Since we selected the team, we have not heard any challenges and complaints from the public, meaning we have selected the best for this country,” he said.

He also thanked the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), for accepting the marathon team for Commonwealth Games.

In the men’s marathon team are the Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono, who will be serving as the team captain, two-time New York Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor, Milan Marathon champion Barnabas Kiptum and former world marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui as a reserve.

Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir leads the women’s race followed by defending champion Ruth Chepng’etich, Paris marathon champion Judith Jeptum Korir and Amsterdam marathon champion Angela Tanui as a reserve.

Tuwei also said that the athletes will be training on their own ahead of the championships.

Captain Cherono said the team is preparing well for the world bonanza.

“We are a full team, committed to taking the mantle and we are ready for the task. We will do our best following a good discussion with teammates and federation president and have promised we shall do our best together,” said Cherono.