We changed the title of this thread. The thread was initially titled, "World Indoors 3000m list is out **ENTRY QUOTA IS NOT EVEN FILLED** but to us the bigger news is that Jakob got into the 3k.
Athletics Kenya never brings many of their qualified athletes to Major Indoor Championships.
In the past they have asked athletes who have run the standard and are amongst the top 2 in the country to pay a fee (150-200USD) if they want to be considered in the team, only to be left out of the team in the end and replaced by other athletes clearly out of shape.
Athletics Kenya never brings many of their qualified athletes to Major Indoor Championships.
In the past they have asked athletes who have run the standard and are amongst the top 2 in the country to pay a fee (150-200USD) if they want to be considered in the team, only to be left out of the team in the end and replaced by other athletes clearly out of shape.
James West from England did not want to go - as you can see, not many top runners fancy the long flight and dealing with the Chinese for at least a week
The same can also be said of the GB womens 3000m team - the 3 top runners dont want to go so Innes Fitzgerald is on the team (despite previously turning down international trips due to not wanting to fly)
James West posted an instagram story complaining about GB athletics leaving him out of the team. He had also given interviews where he said he wanted to go.
Only 14 runners entered for the 3000m at Nanjing World Indoors. The entry quota was 15 runners, which means there is an empty spot! Some interesting points:
Jakob Ingebrigtsen gets the 14th spot with his 7:48 from Euro Indoors...
James West is denied the entry by UK Athletics as he is not considered strong enough although he would be 11th on the list.
Athletics Kenya killing its athletes once more by selecting Cornelius Kemboi who has never run an indoors race and leaving out Mathew Kipsang who would be in 11th place.
I continue to hate UK Athletics. "Not strong enough" despite being ranked high enough to go. Good lord. They pull some stupid BS like this with every major championship.
Aregawi´s problem vs Jakob is that we know for certain that he can´t he can´t outrun Jakob aerobically on the 3000m AND Jakob´s top speed is significantly higher.
Agreed, but indoors does help out. With no wind, at least if Aregawi gets to the lead he can try to make it very hard for Jakob to pass on the straights.
I'm pretty sure Kemboi DNF at Sirikwa so I think Kipsang might actually have faired better since he's been racing indoors a bunch.
I'm also thinking Aregawi might not be that sharp for this considering his recent HM focus. Mills and Mehary perhaps biggest challengers to Jakob?
I’d give the lean to Kipsang if so, but why not enter both I suppose? They let Festus Lagat go in so who knows what might be at play. Kipsang seems like a club athlete so maybe he has other obligations in Spain:
I somewhat trust Aregawi, i don’t think he neglects speed/hills. Doubt he beats Jakob but I think he’ll go out and make it a race.
Why in the hell would Kenya want to send a 29-year-old who is living in Spain. Presumably he's living there as he is trying to get Spanish citizenship? I'd rather take the 25-year-old that lives in my country. Are you sure Kipsang even wanted to go? If he's trying to transfer allegiance, he most definitely doesn't want to go.
Why in the hell would Kenya want to send a 29-year-old who is living in Spain. Presumably he's living there as he is trying to get Spanish citizenship? I'd rather take the 25-year-old that lives in my country. Are you sure Kipsang even wanted to go? If he's trying to transfer allegiance, he most definitely doesn't want to go.
I'm not sure they care as much where the athlete lives as you might think? They've gladly sent Festus Lagat and Edwin Kurgat out of the US, and Japan-based athletes too. It is a good point if he's trying to get citizenship that could factor, but he is unlikely to make teams in general, even for Spain.