Kenya and Ethiopia Olympic marathon team consideration - who should be chosen?

AK hasn't made any public statements but I have no reason not to believe her. They probably met privately with Peres and Eliud and promised them spots.

Looks like no London announcement yet, curious where you saw it would be today (26 Feb)?

Mateiko said in his post-race RAK interview he's preparing for London

Do you think Mateiko troubles Tola if Tola is in NY kind of form?

London website when they announced the wheelchairs athletes, added the able bodied elite would be named 26/2

Tokyo makes things really interesting/complicated...

By merit kipchoge shouldn't go, butif AK doesn't send him that would be a travesty for the Olympic viewers

As for Mateiko, hard to tell, he convincingly beat Tola in RAK HM but the marathon is a whole other beast of course. What do you think?

I don't think Tokyo changes the Ethiopian decision too much. Amane should still be on the team, though Sutume might get that 3rd spot.

For the Kenyan men though, it's quite different. I don't see a team without Benson Kipruto, especially after that incredibly quick win. Kipchoge may not quite have the form where he should go, but I think the odds are in his favor. It's also worth noting that he did run 2:02 in Berlin. He didn't have a great race here, but most of the men who beat him won't be in Paris and it really does have to be said that he's still one of the best in the world.

So I've been thinking about the Kenyan men's team situation and I still think Kipchoge will be put on the team because of reputation and experience + like you say 2:02 last year.

If I had to set a specific criteria that didn't consider Kipchoge being KIPCHOGE I think it would be

1. Benson Kipruto

2. If Evans Chebet wins Boston (3 in a row would be incredible consistency)

3. If a Kenyan wins London especially if quicker than Benson

If all that happened I think they could still see who is the least consistent athlete (perhaps if a Kenyan wins London like Kamworor or A. Kipruto who have had some injuries/poor performances) and replace them with Kipchoge

I'm also not convinced Chebet will be given the opportunity even if he does retain his Boston title. There seems to be some situation going on with him and AK

who cares bruh most of them drug cheats with no real testing in either country

Yeah I think it's difficult to see a team without him even discounting him being Eliud Kipchoge. Even with a tough race here, he's still been incredibly consistent and he notably has never had 2 bad marathons in a row. Remember last year he struggled in Boston before dominating Berlin and after losing London 2020 he came back to win in Enchede and defended his Olympic title in Tokyo. Plus, with Evans Chebet seemingly on ice, I can think of 2 Kenyans who might be ahead of Kipchoge, but it's quite difficult to make a definitive case for a 3rd.

Huge news for the selection of Ethiopian women. Gotytom DNF after 35k in Nagoya.

the new 3 could come from Beriso, Sutume, and whoever can podium at Boston or London.
Teferi, degefa ,and Yeshaneh at Boston

Assefa, megertu, and Yehualaw at London

You're much higher on Sutume than I have been. Is there a reason for that? I think she's one of the top contenders with Worknesh Degefa, Tigist Ketema, and Megertu Alemu but still half step below Tigist Assefa, with Amane almost guaranteed.

Of the names you've highlighted, I don't think Ababel has much of a shot since the Ethiopians tend to prioritize fast times and I'm not sure Senbere has quite enough pedigree compared to the rest to truly contend. And it's a bit strange to me to highlight Yalemzerf but not Almaz from the London field, though I'm skeptical of either of their chances.

Sutume just won a major, beating Beriso and quicker than degefa won in Valencia. For me, she is in the box seat now. I agree YY had a down year in 2023 but with a return to 2022 form could win London again and make the Olympics. I don’t rate Ayana or Ketema

That's fair. IIRC Worknesh was actually a couple seconds faster but they're basically on par with each other time wise. I was forgetting to factor in beating Beriso though, that's definitely a strong point in her favor. I do think I have Worknesh ahead of Sutume still; she's fast and she can also win unpaced races, and dominating Valencia to the degree she did after taking almost 4 years off to have 2 kids. For me, she's just more proven than Sutume is and I don't think she's ever had a bad race.

I will respond with my thoughts about Ababel and Senbere soon.

looking forward to hearing

Still stand by that, T/Leader?

Nope sadly. I think they look elsewhere. Big run by Kosgei btw, she is now in position for Team Kenya.