Sport
Patrick Makau dropped from Kenya marathon squad for Olympic games
Multiple New York and London champion Martin Lel didn’t make it. Geoffrey Mutai, who set a course record in winning last year’s New York Marathon, also missed out. World bronze medallist Sharon Cherop didn’t make the cut for the women.
“It wasn’t an easy task picking the team,” Kiplagat said.
The team is still formidable.
Kipsang, the second-fastest marathon runner in history behind Makau, and world champion Kirui will lead their charge to retain Kenya’s men’s Olympic title in the marathon after the late Sammy Wanjiru won in Beijing four years ago.
Wanjiru died last year after falling from a balcony at his home following a domestic dispute. Despite the country’s prodigious talent in the event, he was the first Kenyan to win Olympic gold in the marathon.
Kenya can also pick a reserve for its men’s and women’s Olympic teams before the June 23 deadline. Federation president Kiplagat said the men’s backup would likely be between Makau and Mutai.
Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.
