Jepkosgei, Kamworor top list of athletes named for World Half-Marathon

World half-marathon record holder Joyciline Jepkosgei and two times World Cross Country champion and the reigning New York City Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor will be leading the Kenya team to the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships to be held in Valencia, Spain in March 24, as Athletics Kenya (AK) named teams for the IAAF World Half Marathon and Commonwealth Games.

As was widely expected, Jepkosgei will be making a return to the city that she managed to break her own record last October while Kamworor’s sublime form in the Cross Country and major marathon races earns him the opportunity to represent her nation.

Kamworor heads to the competition as the defending champion, a fete he achieved in the 2016 competition held in Cardiff, United Kingdom. Bedan Karoki who finished as the runners-up in the same competition also makes the cut.

Others in the men team include Leonard Barsoton, Joram Okombo, and Barselius Kipyegon.

In the women team, Jepkosgei will lead a strong contingent of athletes that has Ruth Chepngetich who broke the Istanbul Half Marathon last year with others including Pauline Kaveke, Mary Wachira, and Fancy Chemutai.

At the same time, Kenneth Mburu, Nicholas Kamacha, and Julius Nderitu form the men’s marathon team for the Commonwealth Games slated for April 4-15 in Gold Coast, Australia.

The women team comprises of Shelmith Muriuki, Hellen Nzembi and Sheilah Jerotich with the trio entrusted with defending Kenya’s gold and silver medals won by Flomena Cheyech and Caroline Kemboi respectively in the 2014 games held in Glasgow, Scotland.

Full team

Commonwealth team

Men

Kenneth Mburu

Nicholas Kamacha

Julius Nderitu

Women

Shelmith Muriuki

Hellen Nzembi

Sheilah Jerotich

World half marathon team

Men; Geoffrey Kamworor, Bedan Karoki, Joram okombo, Barselius  Kipyego,  Leonard Barsoton

Women; Joyciline Jepkosgei, Ruth Chepngetich, Pauline Kaveke, Mary Wachira, Fancy Chemutai