Lel looks certain to represent Kenya in Beijing

By Sabrina Yohannes

LONDON (Reuters) - London marathon champion Martin Lel looks certain to represent Kenya at the Beijing Olympics after breaking the course record in Sunday's race.

Lel retained his title in a personal best of two hours five minutes 15 seconds with compatriot Sammy Wanjiru, the world half-marathon record holder, finishing second nine seconds behind after a thrilling sprint finish.

"We are in the process of selecting and I think he (Lel) has a very good chance," Ibrahim Hussein, assistant secretary of Athletics Kenya and secretary of the selection committee, told Reuters. "I think he must be in the team. If you don't put Martin in, who else will you put?

"He ran the fastest time, he has broken the record here. We have been following them for the last one year and a half or two to see how they are doing, and I think Martin has fulfilled what we need from him."

Athletics Kenya general secretary David Okeyo said Lel and Wanjiru were the "highest probables for the Olympics -- if I can use such a word".

Lel, who has now won the title for three years in a row, said Beijing was a goal.

"It was in my mind," he said. "I just proved today my body is in the right condition for the Olympics."

Okeyo praised Lel and Wanjiru as well as Kenya's William Kipsang, who won the Rotterdam marathon on Sunday, for their victories. Kipsang clocked 2:05:50 in the Dutch city, leading Daniel Rono and Charles Kamathi to a Kenyan sweep.

KENYAN VIOLENCE

"They have done us proud," Okeyo said in a reference to the recent political and ethnic violence in Kenya.

"We also can't forget the situation we had in the country which actually was not very good for the athletes to train without interference. Now that a new government has formed, they will find it more conducive to train for the Olympics."

Okeyo said the Kenyan Olympic selectors would receive reports from Athletics Kenya members who were in London and Rotterdam over the weekend and others who attend the Boston marathon next Monday.

"We will give our recommendations to the board, and after Boston, we are going to name the Kenyan team," he said. "They must know in good time so they can start preparing for the Olympics."

Kenya's depth in the marathon makes the task of the selection panel a complex affair.

"We only need three marathoners to represent Kenya in the Olympics, but as you know we have got so many good runners," Okeyo said. "There are many things we have got to put into consideration: consistency, experience, and of course, the behaviour of every athlete.

"I am also happy with the performance of Salina Kosgei," said Okeyo of the 2006 Berlin marathon runner-up who placed fourth in 2:26:30 in the London's women's race. "She ran well and the time she recorded was good."

Hussein said the selectors would be closely watching Boston's defending men's champion Robert Kipkoech Cheruiyot, and Rita Jeptoo, who was fourth in last year's Boston women's race and seventh at the world championships.

(Take a look at Countdown to Beijing Olympics blog at

http://blogs.reuters.com/china)

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