No world champs for Kipchoge or Kipsang

NAIROBI (KEN): Daily Nation informs that Olympic marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and former WR holder Wilson Kipsang have withdrawn from the men’s team for the World Championships in London. Their withdrawal has now handed Kenyan marathon couple Paul Lonyangata and Purity Rionoripo, who took Paris Marathon by storm in April, another opportunity for a shot at the world marathon titles. Lonyangata will team up with London Marathon Daniel Wanjiru and Boston Marathon champion Geoffrey Kirui in the men’s marathon team. Gedion Kipketer, who finished second at the 2016 Chicago Marathon and 2017 Tokyo Marathon respectively is the men’s reserve. Lonyangata’s wife Rionoripo and World marathon silver medallist Helah Kiprop, who had not been named in the initial team, now join two times World marathon champion Edna Kiplagat in the women’s marathon team. Rionoripo and Kiprop replaces Women’s world marathon record holder and London Marathon champion Mary Keitany and Chicago Marathon champion Florence Kiplagat, who had withdrawn from the team. Rionoripo had been named in the reserve team alongside Agnes Barsosio, who has also been knocked out by an injury. Commonwealth Games champion Philomena Cheyech and Valentine Kipketer, who finished second in 2016 Chicago Marathon are women’s reserves. Informs Daily Nation.

RunBlogRun opines: Look, I am on doctor, but it seems to me a few athletes are going to get a very lucrative pay day at the fall marathons.