World half marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor and London marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum have led high-profile athletes in withdrawing from the World Athletics Championships set to be held in August in Budapest, Hungary.

Shocking withdrawals

The withdrawal of the top athletes came as a shock, as they were expected to carry the country’s flag high.

In the team that had been announced on Friday, June 2, 2023, Kamworor – the two-time World Cross Country champion, and Kiptum were included and would have been Kenya’s top ambassadors in the championship.

Brigid Kosgei, the world record holder, is also among those who have confirmed they will not participate in the August championship. Kosgei’s position has been taken up by Sally Kaptich, a Barcelona Marathon silver medalist.

Titus Kipruto is, however, one of the athletes to keep their places in team Kenya that will participate in the Budapest 19 and 27 August edition. The 25-year-old came fourth in the Tokyo Marathon in March 2023.

Timothy Kiplagat, the Rotterdam Marathon silver medalist who was initially placed as a reserve, and Joshua Belet, the Hamburg silver medalist, are the others to keep their positions.

Replacements

There was also a replacement for Sheila Chepkirui, the 2020 Tokyo Olympics marathon silver medalist, and her place in the team was filled by Shyline Jepkorir, who is the Enschede Marathon champion.

The replacements in the women’s team now join Rosemary Wanjiru, who won the Tokyo Marathon this year and who is also the silver medal winner in the 5000 metres at the 2015 African Games.

The athletes who chose to withdraw their participation want to focus their attention on lucrative marathons set to be held later this year.

The Berlin and Chicago Marathons are scheduled to take place on Monday, September 24, and Sunday, October 8, respectively, while the New York Marathon will come up later on Sunday, November 5, 2023.

In the men’s reserve team, Michael Githae, a Commonwealth Games bronze medalist, is joined by Bethwel Kibet. Kibet finished fifth at the Sevilla Marathon in February of this year.

In the women’s reserve team, there is Commonwealth Games silver medallist Margaret Wangari Muriuki and Betty Chepkwony, who is a Rome Marathon champion.

Mutwii take on withdrawals

Athletics Kenya director of competitions Paul Mutwii admitted the athletes withdrew without explaining why.

“It’s their choice, and there is little you can do about that. It’s their right to make whatever change they want, even without giving us reasons.

“It is important to sacrifice for the country, and those who are at the top should always honour AK invitations.

“We are actually hoping that all athletes invited for the national trials on Friday and Saturday, July 7-8, will show up as we seek to select a strong team for Budapest,” the AK official was quoted as saying by a local media house.

Muthii also revealed that the athletes will train using a different formula as compared to past training regimes.

“A marathon is a complex event that requires its own training and has different training times. We have let the athletes train on their own, but our technical team will be closely following their programs.”

“Kenya has been doing very well when it comes to marathons and short races, and it is high time that we engage all stakeholders for the team’s success.”

Meanwhile, Youhuu was selected as the mascot for the championships, and it was unveiled to the public 100 days before the competition begins. Youhuu is a native Hungarian Racka sheep.

The Racka sheep arrived more than 1100 years ago in Hungary.

The games will be held at the brand-new National Athletics centre.

Kenya Men’s team: Titus Kipruto, Timothy Kiplagat, and Joshua Belet.

Reserve team: Michael Githae and Bethewell Kibet.

Women’s team: Rosemary Wanjiru, Sally Chepyego Kaptich, and Shyline Jepkorir

Reserve team: Betty Chepkwony and Margaret Wangari.