Kenyan athletes quit Team Kenya ahead of Budapest Championships

Kelvin Kiptum, the London Marathon champion, and Brigid Kosgei, the women’s marathon world record holder, have withdrew from the marathon team for the World Athletics Championship, which will be held in Budapest, Hungary, from August 19 to 27.

Geoffrey Kamworor, a three-time world half marathon champion, has also dropped out of the team.

Titus Kipruto, who finished fourth in this year’s Tokyo Marathon in March, is the only member of the main team who has kept his spot.

Kipruto is now joined by Timothy Kiplagat, the silver medalist in the Rotterdam Marathon, and Joshua Belet, the silver medalist in the Hamburg Marathon. Kiplagat was previously a reserve, whereas Belet is making his debut.

Athletics Kenya director of competitions Paul Mutwii announced the changes, stating that Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Michael Githae will retain his position.

Bethwel Kibet, who placed fifth at the Seville Marathon in February, will join Githae on the reserve list, according to Mutwii, who revealed the adjustments in Eldoret on Wednesday.

Kiptum, who finished second in this year’s London Marathon (two hours, two hours, one minute and 25 seconds) on April 23, and Kamworor, a two-time world cross country champion, were nominated to the team on June 2.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics marathon silver medallist, Sheila Chepkirui, who finished fourth place at the London Marathon, has also been replaced in the women’s team.

Barcelona Marathon silver medallist Sally Chepyego Kaptich, who was a reserve, and Enschede Marathon champion Shyline Jepkorir, took up Kosigei and Chepkirui’s positions in the main team.

They join Rosemary Wanjiru, the winner of Tokyo Marathon in March, who had been named earlier in the women’s team.

Commonwealth Games silver medallist Margaret Wangari remains on the reserves list where she will be joined by Rome Marathon champion Betty Chepkwony.

Most of the athletes that had been named earlier have made an about turn in favour of the more lucrative and prestigious races coming later in the year like Berlin (September 24), New York City (November 5) and Chicago (October 8).

“It’s their choice and there is little you can do about that. It’s their right to make whatever change they want even without giving us reasons,” said Mutwii, who is confident that those selected now will represent Kenya well and bring glory.

Mutwii said that unlike in the past, athletes will be training on their own with their coaches until their time of travel for the world championships.

“Marathon is a complex event which requires its own training and has different training times. We have let the athletes train on their own but our technical team will be following closely on their programs,” said Mutwii.

Geoffrey Kirui last won the men’s title for Kenya in 2017 London, while Lelisa Desisa and Tamirat Tola handed Ethiopia victories in 2019 Doha and 2022 Eugene respectively.

Kenya relinquished the women’s title Ruth Chepng’etich won in 2019 Doha to Ethiopia’s Gotytom Gebreslase last year in Eugene, United States of America.