by Justin Lagat
Geoffrey Kamworor, Copenhagen Half Marathon, photo by Copenhagen HM LOC
Ruth Chepngetich, photo by London Marathon Media
Justin Lagat reports today on the astonishingly strong teams that are being named for the World Champs and Commonwealth Games marathon squads for Kenya.
Athletics Kenya just named the national team that will represent Kenya at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon which will take place from 15th July to 24th July 2022.
Geoffrey Kamworor and Ruth Chepngetich will be leading the formidable Kenyan marathon teams to Oregon.
Being the defending champion, Ruth Chepngetich who will be on the team courtesy of the wild card will lead Judith Jeptum, Maureen Jepkemoi, and Angela Tanui in the women’s team. The wild card placement will see Kenya’s team having four entrants at the event while other nations will be having three runners each.
Both Chepngetich and Jeptum are currently in great form with Chepngetich having just run the 2nd fastest time ever for the women’s only marathon at the Nagoya Marathon to win the race in 2:17:18. Jeptum on the other hand just ran 2:19:48 a few days ago to set a new course record at the 2022 Paris Marathon.
Geoffrey Kamworor, the three-times world half marathon champion and two times world senior cross country champion will lead the men’s team that includes Barnabas Kiptum, Lawrence Cherono and Geoffrey Kirui, as a reserve.
While Kamworor has made a name for himself as a championships runner, Cherono has been relatively more successful than him in the marathon distance and is currently ranked number three behind Eliud Kipchoge and Birhanu Legese according to the current World Athletics Marathon Rankings. Kamworor is placed at 27th.
The other man to watch on the team is Kirui, who is a former world marathon champion and will be seeking to use that experience and confidence to go for another world title in Oregon.
Marathon Team to the Commonwealth Games
Athletics Kenya also named a marathon team to the Commonwealth Games that will happen from 28th July to August 8th.
Philemon Kacheran, Erick Kiptanui and Jonathan Korir will be in the men’s team while Michael Githai will be a reserve.
The women’s marathon team has Margaret Wangari, Purity Changwony, and Stella Barsosio.
Viola Cheptoo Lagat who finished 2nd to Peres Chepchirchir at the 2021 New York City Marathon has been named as a reserve.
