2012 London Olympic Games

Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team for London 2012 ANNOUNCED!

Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team for London 2012 ANNOUNCED!

Apr 25, 2012 by Ryan From Flotrack
Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team for London 2012 ANNOUNCED!
This morning the Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team was announced after much anticipation of who would...or who would not...be picked for this year's squad. With so much talent in the event and no formal Olympic Trial in the marathon for the Kenyans the process was not the smoothest for people to understand. Below is the list of qualifiers:

Men's Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team:

Wilson Kipsang (Birthdate: 3/15/1982)
PR: 2:03:42 (#2 all-time by only 4 seconds, Frankfort 2011), 58:59 Half Marathon (Ras Al Khaimah 2009), 28:37 10k-track (at altitude, Niarobi 2007)
Latest Results: 2:04:44, won last weekend's 2012 London Marathon
Past Championship Experience: Finished 4th at the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships (1:00:08)
Note: Kipsang has run under 2:05 ever year between 2010-2012. First marathon was in 2010.

Abel Kirui (Birthdate: 6/4/1982)
PR: 2:05:04 (Rotterdam 2009), 1:00:11 Half Marathon (Rotterdam 2007), 28:16 10k-track (at altitude, Nairobi 2008)
Latest Results: 2:07:56, 6th at last weekend's 2012 London Marathon (finished as 2nd Kenyan behind Kipsang and 5 seconds in front of Emmanuel Mutai)
Past Championship Experience: Two-time World Champ in the Marathon (2009 Berlin, 2011 Daegu)
Note: Kirui was known more as a pacer before his win at the 2009 World Champs, has been on fire when medals are on the line.

Moses Mosop (Birthdate: 7/7/1985)
PR: 2:05:03 (Rotterdam 2009, but ran 2:03:06 at Boston in 2011 which ranks #2 all-time under any conditions), 59:20 Half Marathon (Milan 2010), 12:54 5k-track (Paris 2006), 7:36 3k-track (Lausanne 2006)
Latest Results: 2:05:03, 3rd at 2012 Rotterdam Marathon earlier this month (3rd overall in race but first Kenyan. Only his third marathon ever.)
Past Championship Experience:
Note: Relatively new to the marathon having only run three. The first in Boston of April 2011. Won Chicago Marathon this past fall in his second marathon.

Those left off...

Patrick Makau (Birthdate: 3/2/1985)
PR: 2:03:38, Berlin 2011 (*Current World Record), 58:52 Half Marathon (Ras Al Khaimah 2009), 7:54 3k-track (Pliezhausen 2007)
Latest Results: DNF at last weekend's 2012 London Marathon.
Past Championship Experience: 2nd at both the 2007 and 2008 World Half Marathon Championships
Note: Has run six marathons since his debut at the 2009 Rotterdam Marathon where finish 4th in 2:06:14. Since his debut he had won 3 of his last 4 marathons, which included setting the world record. Needed to be the top Kenyan in London for a spot on this team.

Geoffery Mutai (Birthdate: 10/7/1981)
PR: 2:04:55 Rotterdam 2010 (ran 2:03:02 in Boston 2011, the fastest time ever under any conditions), 59:30 Half Marathon (Valencia 2009), 27:27 10k-track (at altitude in Nairobi 2010....ran 27:38 in 2011)
Latest Results: DNF at the 2012 Boston Marathon, dropped out around mile 18 due to cramps
Past Championship Experience: 5th at the 2011 World XC Championships
Note: Although he won the NYC Marathon this past fall in a very fast 2:05:06, it was not enough to secure a spot for Mutai. Boston needed to be another shining moment for him.

Emanuel Mutai (Birthdate: 10/12/1984)
PR: 2:04:40 London 2011, 28:09 10k-track (at altitude in Eldoret 2005)
Latest Results: 2:08:01, 7th at last weekend's 2012 London Marathon and third Kenyan in the race behind Kipsang and Kirui
Past Championship Experience: 2nd at the 2009 World Championships in the Marathon
Note: Has the most experience with that marathon with his first coming in 2007. However, with the exception of the 2011 London Marathon where he set the course record, Mutai has not won any of his marathons.  Probably needed to be the top Kenyan or win in London for a spot on this team.

Women's Kenyan Olympic Marathon Team:

Mary Keitany
(Birthdate: 1/18/1982)
PR: 2:18:37 (London 2012), 1:05:50 Half Marathon (Ras Al Khaimah 2011)
Lateset Results: 2:18:37, won this past weekend's 2012 London Marathon in course record time
Past Championship Experience: won the 2009 World Half Marathon Championships

Edna Kiplagat (Birthdate: 11/15/1979)
PR: 2:19:50 (London 2012)
Lateset Results: 2nd at the 2012 London Marathon behind Keitany
Past Championship Experience: won the 2011 Marathon World Championships in Daegu

Priscah Jeptoo (Birthdate: 1/18/1982)
PR: 2:20:14 (London 2012)
Lateset Results: 3rd at the 2012 London Marathon behind Keitany and Kiplagat)
Past Championship Experience: 2nd at the 2011 Marathon World Championships in Daegu behind Kiplagat
 
Those left off...

Sharon Cherop

Florence Kiplagat

Lydia Cheromei



Sidenote: (had to head to a meeting, will get to the rest of the women's list later)