Kenya Names Olympic Marathon Team (For Real): Kipchoge, Biwott, W. Korir (M) + Kiprop, Sumgong + Jepkesho (W)

Korir is a politician in Kenya. Other than that his selection makes no sense. Good for Rupp. They left some studs off their team.

Do we know if Chumba and Kipsang expressed that they did not want to run in the Olympics? I honestly don't know.

AK used to have a problem of the top Kenyan runners wanting to skip the Olympics and get paychecks from other races.

Maybe there is SOME logic on the Korir selection.

Here are the marathons that he has won:

-2012 Boston Marathon - 88 degrees was the high

-2010 LA Marathon - 80 degrees was the high

-2009 LA Marathon - 70 degrees was the high

... Or perhaps they want him to rabbit it at 2:05 pace.

I like the addition of W. Korir. Dude is a serious talent and seriously knows how to race in tough conditions and always performs quite well. Hopefully he is given some time "off" parliament, because if he were to get in a big training cycle that is 100% dedicated to Rio, I can see him medaling.

Furthermore, Korir will have a lot more to run for beyond personal reasons, which is why I admire and respect the selection.

Go Wesley, and it's great to see the NCAA represented on Team Kenya!

kjVC wrote:

I like the addition of W. Korir. Dude is a serious talent and seriously knows how to race in tough conditions and always performs quite well. Hopefully he is given some time "off" parliament, because if he were to get in a big training cycle that is 100% dedicated to Rio, I can see him medaling.

Furthermore, Korir will have a lot more to run for beyond personal reasons, which is why I admire and respect the selection.

Go Wesley, and it's great to see the NCAA represented on Team Kenya!

Korir is a GREAT dude but he has no business on being on the Olympic team. We tell you why here:

Hint. He's only finished in the top 3 in a scant 25% of his marathons and it's not normally very hot in Rio in August.

Remember how Wesley Korir was working on Canadian or US citizenship so he could run for one of the teams one day? Interesting.

He has had very limited training in recent years and has done unexpectedly well. He has potential.

If he runs so damn well in the heat why didn't he run better at Boston this year? It was in the low 70's at the start and he still struggled. The dude must be using his political power to get on the Olympic team. It's also 2016 not 2010-2012 and he isn't the same athlete he was 4 years ago. Dumb decision IMHO.

What about Boston 2016 wrote:

If he runs so damn well in the heat why didn't he run better at Boston this year?

He ran better than all the other Kenyans

HardLoper wrote:

What about Boston 2016 wrote:

If he runs so damn well in the heat why didn't he run better at Boston this year?

He ran better than all the other Kenyans

That's not saying much as most of the Kenyans were in London or Tokyo.

In terms of Wilson Kipsang, I heard an interesting theory at Worlds. Let me remind you that Kipsang's agent was suspended early last year. Some were speculating to get that suspension lifted, Kipsang was basically forced (or volunteered) to do Worlds. So he agrees to go to Worlds and they agree to lift the suspension. Thus Kipsang's DNF might have been viewed as a big no-no and a lack of an honest effort as they guy is very consistent in marathons.

Anyone from Kenya on here? Do you think that AK got so pissed off that they are taking it on him here?

I'm also wondering if any one every turns down an Olympic spot. Like might Chumba turn it down so he can defend in Chicago?

Is it not perfectly obvious? In absence of any real leadership from AK, the selection of the third men and women (is not logical to argue with top 2 selction on both sides) comes from Beaverton and not Riadha House?

Korir - Nike

Kotut - Nike (Rosa) - Does even deserve to be alternate?

Kipyego - adidas

Jepkesho - Nike (Rosa)

Keitany - adidas

Kiplagat - adidas

is not logical wrote:

Is it not perfectly obvious? In absence of any real leadership from AK, the selection of the third men and women (is not logical to argue with top 2 selction on both sides) comes from Beaverton and not Riadha House?

Korir - Nike

Kotut - Nike (Rosa) - Does even deserve to be alternate?

Kipyego - adidas

Jepkesho - Nike (Rosa)

Keitany - adidas

Kiplagat - adidas

Does this really make a difference though? They're all going to be wearing Nike in Rio anyway.

Also Chris Lotsbom said that Gerard van de Veen told him Kipsang withdrew from consideration for Rio. So that explains why he wasn't even listed as an alternate.

Florence Kiplagat is Nike, so your suspicion is wrong.

Jonathan Gault wrote:

is not logical wrote:

Is it not perfectly obvious? In absence of any real leadership from AK, the selection of the third men and women (is not logical to argue with top 2 selction on both sides) comes from Beaverton and not Riadha House?

Korir - Nike

Kotut - Nike (Rosa) - Does even deserve to be alternate?

Kipyego - adidas

Jepkesho - Nike (Rosa)

Keitany - adidas

Kiplagat - adidas

Does this really make a difference though? They're all going to be wearing Nike in Rio anyway.

Also Chris Lotsbom said that Gerard van de Veen told him Kipsang withdrew from consideration for Rio. So that explains why he wasn't even listed as an alternate.

I've also updated the article to reflect that Joe Battaglia tweeted that Keitany wasn't "keen" to be selected as she doesn't think this is a great year for her.

So per his agent, Kipsang had withdrawn his name from Olympic consideration, but allegedly due to concerns about heat and humidity, not race money.

(Just mentioning this in case thread readers didn't catch the update on the lrc article about the selection of the Kenyan Olympic marathon teams.)

HardLoper wrote:

Remember how Wesley Korir was working on Canadian or US citizenship so he could run for one of the teams one day? Interesting.

He has had very limited training in recent years and has done unexpectedly well. He has potential.

Sometime after he won Boston in 2012, he altered his life's path (which was leading to U.S. Citizenship) and decided his calling was to help the people of Kenya. This is shown in the excellent documentary "Transcend" which was released in 2014:

Politics may be heavy involved in the selection process. The goal is to win the gold and they have it with Kipchoge. Doesn\'t really matter after that. Be critical all you want about Korir it could be worse. Many of the top fall marathons are recruiting these guys for after the Olympics and will pay big bucks.

Korir is a no brainer:

- Outspoken about doping in Kenya. Proposed legislation against doping. With all of the scrutiny on AK, putting him on the team shows they're "serious" about eliminating doping.

- A great runner in tough conditions. I'll admit he may have underperformed at Boston this year, but if you look at his body of work, he often runs well when it counts in less than steller conditions. It will be humid in Rio, even if the air temp is not hot.

- The Olympics isn't about who has the fastest PR, it's about who is the better racer. Look at Stephen Kiprotich. Korir is a racer, not a time trialer. I would not be shocked to see him earn a medal.

- He has a good story. He's a guaranteed 5 minute soft focus human interest feature, probably during the early parts of the marathon or even during prime time. AK needs all of the positive publicity it can get.

- He's a politician, but this isn't the strongest reason. Knowing the background of why he got into politics and seeing what legislation he's introduced since then, he doesn't seem like the type to bully his way onto the team, BUT the selection committee may be looking long term at potential "favors" down the road.

I'm just glad that the US doesn't pick its Olympic team by choosing who is most outspoken against doping, tough, has a good story, and is a politician. Korir is a great guy, has a good story, etc. That doesn't make him one of the top 3 marathoners in Kenya.

This is another example of why a purely objective trials system is so much more fair than selection by committee.

lack of objectivity wrote:

This is another example of why a purely objective trials system is so much more fair than selection by committee.

No system is "fair", get the F*CK over it.