Why top marathon names opted for individual races

Kenya's Sabastian Sawe crosses the line to win the men's race at the 2025 London Marathon in central London on April 27, 2025. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) / With 2020 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir and last year's Berlin Marathon runner-up Vincent Ngetich leading the 2025 World Athletics Championships squad to Tokyo, surprise names featured in the selected team. Big names in the classic distance decided to compete in other well-oiled races, raising questions. Ngetich will be teaming up with Erick Sang and Kennedy Kimutai in the men's marathon, while Jepchirchir will have the company of Jackline Cherono and Magdaline Masai in the women's category. Before the selection of the marathon team on July 22, names of a number of marathon big shots popped up whenever athletics enthusiasts debated on possible casts in the list of long distance stars to be enlisted to fly Kenyan colours in Tokyo. For example, the fastest and arguably the best marathoner in the world this year, Sabastian Sawe will not be representing Kenya. In status, Sawe comes second after former world record holder Eliud Kipchoge, who will also not be flying Kenyan colours in Tokyo. The 29-year-old, who will be competing in his third marathon at the Berlin World Marathon Major on September 21, was among the runners cheered on by fans for the international assignment. Former Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru was also among names that featured as pundits made their predictions. Wanjiru is, however, returning to Berlin, where her impressive marathon career began in 2022. She finished second in Berlin with a time of 2:18:00 on her debut. Six months later, she won the Tokyo Marathon, and in 2024, she was runner-up there with her current personal best of 2:16:14. Wanjiru, who trains in Iten missed out on Team Kenya for the Tokyo Olympics last year and was touted to make the team this time. Hellen Obiri, who bagged an Olympic bronze medal last year was tipped (by fans) for the World Championships assignment given her experience, winning two titles in 5000m and a silver in 10,000m as well as a bronze in 1500m. Obiri, 35, is so far one of the most decorated women in distance running, who has won world titles in indoor track, outdoor track and cross country plus the Boston and New York City Marathons. After a second place in Boston, Obiri, who runs for the On Athletics Club in Boulder, Colorado, went ahead to chalk up victories in Great Manchester Run 10km and the New York Mini 10km in May and June and her next move remained guarded. At the New York 10km race, Obiri covered half of the hilly course in a blistering 15:09 and walked away with $10,000 (Sh1.2 million) in prize money. John Korir and Sharon Lokedi, who savoured victories at the Boston Marathon in April, were almost obvious inclusions according to observers. It is not clear whether Korir will be defending his Chicago marathon title later in the year. Kipchumba Byron, a sports expert and athletics tactician said the missing out of long distance stars who have been tested at the global championships raises questions about who has control over athletes' participation in national duty between managers and the federation, which is mandated to select Team Kenya. "At what point does the interests of a nation become inferior to individual decisions by athletes and managers? Do managers have more leverage in making decisions? If the managers have more say, then our national pride is at stake," Dr Kipchumba told Standard Sport yesterday. He, however, says the surprise names in the Kenyan marathon squad might be a blessing in disguise. "The surprise talents can be tuned to be underdogs in a tactic of pulling surprises at the World Championships because the other nations have little knowledge about their running techniques," added Kipchumba.

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