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Patrick Makau dropped from Kenya marathon squad for Olympic games
Patrick Makau wins the Rotterdam marathon. April 11 2010. PHOTO/Olaf Kraak/AFP/Getty Images
Kenya left world record-holder Patrick Makau off its Olympic marathon team on Wednesday as distance running’s dominant country cut a bunch of world-class athletes from its group for London.
Makau didn’t make the final list of three men and three women after he failed to finish the London Marathon last weekend because of a hamstring injury.
Instead, London Marathon winner Wilson Kipsang, two-time defending world champion Abel Kirui and Chicago titleholder Moses Mosop were the men named by Athletics Kenya for the Olympic race.
Mary Keitany, who won the women’s race in London on Sunday, will also return to compete at the Olympics. Reigning world champion Edna Kiplagat and Priscah Jeptoo, who finished second at the worlds, were the other women selected. All three were on the podium at the London Marathon.
Makau dropped out less than halfway through the men’s race, possibly costing him a place on the team in favor of surprise inclusion Mosop.
Makau ran the fastest time ever in a marathon in Berlin last September, but hasn’t hit the same form this season — with Mosop putting in better performances in 2012, according to Athletics Kenya.
“We have selected the athletes based on their individual performances after the major marathon races they have participated in this season,” AK President Isaiah Kiplagat said. “If you look at the time posted by Mosop, although he was third in Rotterdam he has done much better than most athletes.”
