Kenya spoilt for choice for London

Kenyan athletics authorities said yesterday the selection of the marathon team for next year’s London Olympics would be ex­tremely difficult considering the number of elite runners who have qualified.

Over 50 women and 150 men, led by the new world record holder Patrick Makau, have attained the marathon qualifying marks.

But with only three places in each category up for grabs, the Kenyan selectors conceded yesterday they will be spoilt for choice when the final team is named next April.

“It will be a stiff competition to pick the final squad. We will have to take into account their ranking, performance and consistency to get the best,” Athletics Kenya secretary David Okeyo told AFP.

“We are however encouraged by the preparations of our athletes, and hopeful, Kenya will be able to win both the men’s and women’s titles in London,” Okeyo added.

He said the country’s chances of taking both titles in London were high, despite the death of the Olympic men’s champion Samuel Wanjiru, who fell from the balcony of his Nyahururu home earlier this year.