Team Kenya Marathon Stars Pull Out of World Athletics Championships

• Top marathoners for Team Kenya have withdrawn from the World Athletics Championships
• Kelvin Kiptum and women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei have pulled out of the team
• The international event is scheduled to take place in Budapest, Hungary from August 19-27

Team Kenya has been dealt a blow after top marathon runners, Kelvin Kipotum and Brigid Kosgei, pulled out of the upcoming World Athletics Championships, scheduled for August in Budapest, Hungary.

Athletics Kenya has recently announced the development and also named their replacements.

Kiptum emerged victorious in the 2023 London Marathon in April, where he set the second-fastest time in history. The 23-year-old set a course record of 2 hours, 1 minute, 25 seconds, narrowly missing out on Eliud Kipchoge’s world record by 16 seconds, per AP.

Three-time world half marathon champion, Geoffrey Kamworor also pulled out.

Rotterdam Marathon silver medalist, Timothy Kiplagat and Hamburg Marathon silver medalist, Joshua Belet will replace Kiptum and Kamworor. The two join Titus Kipruto on the men's team.

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Women's marathon world record holder, Brigid Kosgei also withdrew from the championships. 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalist Sheila Chepkirui was also replaced.

Barcelona Marathon silver medalist, Sally Chepyego Kaptich and Enschede Marathon champion, Shyline Jepkorir will replace the two on the team and will join 2020 Tokyo Marathon winner, Rosemary Wanjiru, per Daily Nation.

Team Kenya's revised squads:

Men: Titus Kipruto, Timothy Rono, Joshua Belet, Michael Githae (reserve), and Bethwel Kibet Kipchumba (reserve)

Women: Rosemary Wanjiru, Sally Chepyego, Shyline Jepkorir, Margaret Wangari (reserve), and Betty Chepkwony (reserve).

Why the athletes pulled out

Most of the athletes who have pulled out are probably eyeing the lucrative marathons, namely Berlin (September 24), New York City (November 5), and Chicago (October 8).

Kenya last won the men's title in 2017 when Geoffrey Kirui stormed to victory in London. Ethiopia's Lelisa Desisa and Tamirat Tola won the 2019 and 2022 races, respectively.

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Ruth Chepgnetich won the women's marathon in 2019 in Doha, but Ethiopia's Gotytom Gebreslase won in Eugene, Oregon in 2022.

List of Kenyan record holders

In related coverage, Sports Brief previously listed every Kenyan who holds a world record in athletics currently.

Top runners from the country include the acclaimed Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei, and Beatrice Chepkoech.

Kipchoge is a global icon in the sport after he became the first man to run a marathon in sub-two hours in 2019.