Kenya: strong squad named for Beijing olympics

ezekiel-kemboiOlympic 3000m steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi will be leading a star-studded Kenyan contingent of 37 athletes for the Beijing Marathon.

Kemboi will run along with world champion Brimin Kipruto and Africa title holder Richard Mateelong in what pundits anticipate to be 1-2-3 for Kenya in Beijing in this raced dubbed a Kenyan preserve.

Others named during the Olympic trials in Nairobi include world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba and the reigning 800m world title holder Janeth Jepkosgei who will showcase with Africa junior champion and rising star Pamela Jelimo. The two coincidentally were born and brought up in one remote Kenyan village.

Also in the team are 5000m World Athletics finals double champion Edwin Soi, former 10000m Africa double gold medalist Moses Ndiema Masai and the 2006 World 800m indoor champion Alfred Bungei.

Osaka world 5000m championship bronze medalist Prisca Jepleting Cherono and the All Africa 3000m steeplechase champion Ruth Bosibori complete the list of stars in the Kenyan squad.

By Ken Chelimo

Photo by: ActionPixs (Maruko) and Iaaf.org

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