I’ve been waving the Kenyan flag a lot lately. Last week, I waved it for Wesley Korir and Sharon Cherop, who won the men’s and women’s titles at the Boston Marathon. In this video, I wave it again for Kenyan athletes Wilson Kipsang and Mary Keitany, who won the men’s and women’s races at the London Marathon.
With their victories in the British capital, Kipsang and Keitany are good bets to make Kenya’s 2012 Olympic team. The Kenyans will be bidding to win gold medals in both the men’s and women’s Olympic marathons in London.
In successfully defending her London title, Keitany set a new African record of 2:18:37, breaking the mark of Kenyan countrywoman Catherine Ndereba, a silver medalist in the women’s marathon at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Kipsang, meanwhile, is hoping to become the second Kenyan to win Olympic gold in the men’s marathon. The late Sammy Wanjiru, the subject of a recent Sports Illustrated article, set an Olympic record of 2:06:32 at the Beijing Games.
Also in the video above, we see and hear from Caster Semenya, the South African 800 meter runner who will be competing in her first Olympics in London. The 21-year-old Semenya won a silver medal at last year’s world championships in South Korea and a gold medal at the 2009 world championships in Germany. She says her big goal this year is to win her first Olympic gold medal in London.
Great stuff SONNY, HAPPY TO BE WAVING THE kENYAN fLAG ALONG SIDE YOU.
Those “good bets” Kipsang and Keitany were both selected Wednesday for Kenya’s 2012 Olympic marathon team.
http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/OLY12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=64694
Sonny, I’ll join your cheering section for KENYA! Thanks for this heads up on these athletes, I’ll certainly be watching these Olympics games.
Oh how I wish I could be there. I remember the infectious joy of being in Atlanta during the ’96 games. First, time I ever experienced a runner’s high since I’m a world-class couch potato. And that I’ve visited Kenya it is my pleasure to rally behind them & for them.
Wishing all Brits a Happy Olympic season!
I’m hoping for a good showing from a resurgent America team, but the medalists will come out of Central Africa. The talent pool is too deep.
Sonny,i think the Kenyans will be going for more gold medals in the London Olympic games.Its obvious from this latest write-up.But a sad miss will be Sammy Wanjiru, a young promising talent dying at the prime of his life.
All of Kenya is awaiting a bumper gold harvest in London 2012- in all fields this time. There are high hopes in the swimming pools, boxing rings and of course track and field.