Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team announced

G-Money

Slightly surprised at one or two names being left off.

http://www.athleticsweekly.com/news/kenya-announce-olympic-marathon-squad/

pconn062

Kirui faded badly on Sunday, and as the article says he's still a bit of an unknown although he has performed well at major championships. Kipsang was a must especially after Sunday's race, as well as Keitnay who proved she's a big race performer.

G-Money

Despite his DNF in Boston, I still think I would have picked G Mutai over Moses Mosop.

Getonwithit

No Mutai brother and no Makau!!
Hard to believe yet you could argue for 3 picked as well..
Womens teams picked off a straight shoot out in London. I think Keitany is a s close to a sure thing as possible in this coming Olympic marathon.

EauRouge79

Mosop has run no slower than 2:05:37 .

tHE vAGGABOND

To be fair, they had 20 or more people who could win gold, and indeed those who get left out will be gunning for world records in Berlin..

I wonder what odds I can get now on Patrick Makau smashing the WR in Autumn!

Getonwithit

Makau and the Mutais will surely react hard to this, race some big races now?

ecoli

Given the recent results I think that is the most predictable outcome. AK look to have put the decision simply down to last weeks performances.

Whether this is right or not is the question?

Makau
I feel slightly sorry for him after breaking the WR last year he was all but assured of his place on the team though his DNF in near ideal conditions on a fast course with 3 of his rivals (one running very sub par by his standards)

G Mutai
This would be the one person I would question not putting there. His performances last year to me dwarf any of the other Kenyans and I think his race choice was what did him in. The conditions in Boston were crazy and running a 2.12 regardless of the heat was not going to do him any favours so I think DNF seemed like the right call at the time. I can see him going on to smash the WR later in the year

Kirui
Alot of talk about how he faded has been highlighted but if you look at his run I think it he had no other choice. Off all the Olympic hopefuls he was slowest on time so had to stick to what he is good at which is racing. He along with Lelisa went after Kipsang and paid the price I think had he have ran for second I dont think it would have made any difference to his chances

All in all I think the week that was in marathon terms made for the worst possible scenario that could have been for AK and even though I think the gold is still going home to Kenya I don't think the cleansweep is still on the cards as Kenya have lost there air of invincibility

tHE vAGGABOND

Biwat won Paris in 2.05.10 or something on a cold and windy day and he is even not getting mentioned!

If that was any non-African running that time folks would going mad

Pherekydes

Getonwithit wrote: »

I think Keitany is a s close to a sure thing as possible in this coming Olympic marathon.

Gelana won Rotterdam in 2:18:58, Mergia won Dubai in 2:19:31. I wouldn't take anything for granted, especially at the Marathon.

T runner

ecoli wrote: »

Given the recent results I think that is the most predictable outcome. AK look to have put the decision simply down to last weeks performances.

Whether this is right or not is the question?

Makau
I feel slightly sorry for him after breaking the WR last year he was all but assured of his place on the team though his DNF in near ideal conditions on a fast course with 3 of his rivals (one running very sub par by his standards)

G Mutai
This would be the one person I would question not putting there. His performances last year to me dwarf any of the other Kenyans and I think his race choice was what did him in. The conditions in Boston were crazy and running a 2.12 regardless of the heat was not going to do him any favours so I think DNF seemed like the right call at the time. I can see him going on to smash the WR later in the year

Kirui
Alot of talk about how he faded has been highlighted but if you look at his run I think it he had no other choice. Off all the Olympic hopefuls he was slowest on time so had to stick to what he is good at which is racing. He along with Lelisa went after Kipsang and paid the price I think had he have ran for second I dont think it would have made any difference to his chances

All in all I think the week that was in marathon terms made for the worst possible scenario that could have been for AK and even though I think the gold is still going home to Kenya I don't think the cleansweep is still on the cards as Kenya have lost there air of invincibility

If Kipsang is in the same form as for London: then i think only Mosop can threaten him unless the Ethiopians new training (im assuming) starts to reap big.

Mosop and G Mutai are very close when on form. Mosop claimed to have an injury concern during Rotterdam that meant he could not accelerate. I suppose getting within 15s of the winner in 2:05:03 taking a lot of wind on his own in 3rd is better than it first looked.

Mosop is a consistant performer also.

The DNFs may have made AK choice easier although G Mutai will be the harder done by giving the conditions of Boston.

I agree that Kirui was a little unlucky in London: Once he went after Kipsang (not unreasonable if he was feeling up for it) it would have been difficult to decide to immediately drop off the pace once he caught up.
The 14:09 5th 5k didnt kill Lelisa and Kirui. But it required such a lethal extraction of glycogen from them that it ensured their demise. It was almost like Kipsang injected them with a lethal poison that did not take hold immediately, Kipsang able to run more steadily beside his victims as the serum slowly took hold.....Kirui actually took the lead during teh 5k ina n attempt to intimidate Kipsang and im sure to try and control the pace downward. He did all he could, but will have learnt a lot and is in with a great shout of a medal in London, maybe even gold. Kipsang has shown himself to be a great racer as well as great time trialist and is rightly on the ticket.

G Mutai a little unlucky, i agree. Im still dying to see what Mosop can do if 100%......

G-Money

I hope G Mutai goes and run's a new world record seeing he missed out on the Olympic team. Or dare I say it, run a WR of 2:02!