Kipchoge, Jelagat Lead Team Kenya to the Berlin Marathon

World Record Holder Eliud Kipchoge and Nancy Jelagat will lead our athletes to the Berlin Marathon happening on 25 September.

 

Yesterday, Athletics Kenya announced the 10 athletes that will fly our country’s flag high in the German Capital. The rest of the squad includes Mark Korir 2:05:49, Bethwel Yegon 2:06:14, Alex Kibet 2:07:09, Zablon Chumba 2:07.18 and Abel Kipchumba 2:09:39 for the men’s side.

 

Significantly, Maurine Chepkemoi 2:20:1, Vibian Chepkirui 2:20:59 and debutant Rosemary Wanjiru will be representing in the women’s field.

 

Eliud Kipchoge set the men’s marathon World Record clocking 2:01:39 on September 16, 2018 in Berlin. He will be looking forward to dethroning last year’s winner Guye Adola of Ethiopia. 

 

 

Looking back, Kenya first won the Berlin Marathon in 1995 thanks to Sammy Lelei’s brilliance. 4 years later, the legend, Tegla Loroupe, won to be the first Kenyan woman to reign supreme in Berlin.

 

After Elijah Lagat’s win in 1997, Kenya went ahead to win the men’s title for 7 consecutive years starting 1999. Josephat Kiprono, Simon Biwott , Joseph Ngolepus, Raymond Kipkoech,  Paul Tergat , Felix Limo and Philip Manyim really delivered.

 

Kenya and Ethiopia Domination

 

Kenya and Ethiopia have since dominated the marathon, winning 8 times and 7 times respectively.

 

Notably, Gladys Cherono and Eliud Kipchoge are the most successful Kenyan athletes having won 3 times each. Interestingly, they both emerged victorious in the same years; 2015, 2017 and 2018.

 

 

On the other hand, no one is yet to match Ethiopia’s Haile Gebrselassie’s 4-year streak. The two-time Olympic gold medallist won the Berlin Marathon from 2006 to 2009 and this is no mean feat.

 

Nancy Jelagat will be looking for that sweet first victory in Berlin. She finished second in the 2021 Berlin half marathon. Her other previous success is the December 2021 Valencia Marathon where she was first with a time of 2:19:30

 

 

The 2022 BMW Berlin Marathon will start at 0950 HRS East African Time and it’s only proper that we all cheer for team Kenya as our athletes attempt to restore and affirm our position as an athletic power house.

 

Connect with me on Twitter

https://twitter.com/ciryan_achola