World Athletics Championships: Faith Kipyegon, Omanyala, Chebet Lead Team Kenya to Tokyo
- Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet will lead Kenya's charge at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
- The team was selected by Athletics Kenya after an intense trial at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Tuesday
- Kipyegon and Mary Moraa qualified as defending champions, while Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Ferdinand Omanyala were among those excused
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Athletics Kenya (AK) has named a large chunk of the squad that will represent the country at the 2025 World Athletics Championships.
Source: Getty Images
The biennial championships will be held from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo, Japan.
How Kenya's team for World Championships was selected
AK named a strong squad following the conclusion of the national trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Tuesday, July 22.
The squad is not yet final as athletes in some categories still have until August 24 to hit the required qualification mark required by World Athletics.
The top two finishers at Ulinzi Complex qualified automatically for the Tokyo Championships provided they hit the required mark. A third athlete was selected by AK's panel.
Triple world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will lead the team as she chases another global crown. Kipyegon didn't compete at the national trials as she is the defending world champion in both the 1500m and 5000m and therefore received a wild card.
"There is still room for improvement for me at the World Championships. It has been a good season so far. I attempted the Breaking4, then went to Eugene where I broke the world record. I did not expect to break my own world record. I'll keep on pushing my world record. It is just to train healthy and pray to God to arrive in Tokyo injury-free," said Kipyegon.
Joining her in the 1500m will be Nelly Chepchirchir and Arizona-based Susan Ejore. The women's 5000m is heavily stacked with Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Agnes Jebet. Chebet recently broke the world record in the event.
Chebet, who is a double Olympic gold medalist from Paris 2024, will also compete in the 10000m, where she is also the world record holder. Others in the women's 10000m are Jebet and Janet Jepng'etich.
Source: Getty Images
Other headliners include Ferdinand Omanyala. The fastest man in Africa did not compete in the trials as he had already attained the required mark of 10 seconds or below.
Men's 800m Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi was also excused from the trials and handed a direct qualification.
Mary Moraa received a wild card in the women's 800m as she is the defending world champion from Budapest last year.
At 36 years old, Julius Yego will be the oldest member of the team as he competes in the men's javelin. Yego famously won the 2015 world title in Beijing.
Kenya's full team to 2025 World Athletics Championships
Men's 100m - Ferdinand Omanyala
Women's 400m - Mercy Adongo Oketch.
Men's 400m - George Mutinda, Brian Onyari Tinega, Kevin Kipkorir.
Men's 400m hurdles - Wiseman Were Mukhobe.
Women's 800m - Mary Moraa (Defending champion), Lilian Odira, Vivian Chebet Kiprotich, Sarah Moraa.
Men's 800m - Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Nicholas Kiplangat Kebenei, Kelvin Kimtai Loti.
Women's 1500m - Faith Kipyegon (Defending champion), Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Lokayo Ejore, Dorcas Ewoi.
Men's 1500m - Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, Reynold Cheruiyot, Timothy Cheruiyot.
Women's 3000m steeplechase - Faith Cherotich, Doris Lemngole Cherop, Pamela Kosgei
Men's 3000m steeplechase - Edmund Serem, Simon Kiprop Koech, Abraham Kibiwot
Women's 5000m - Faith Kipyegon (Defending champion), Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Margaret Akidor
Men's 5000m - Nicholas Kipkorir
Women's 10000m - Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Janeth Chepng’etich
Men's 10000m - Edwin Kurgat, Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui, Benson Kiplangat
Women's marathon - Peris Jepchirchir, Jackline Cherono, Magdaline Masai Yeko, Vivian Jepkemei Cheruiyot (Rsv)
Men's marathon - Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, Erick Kiplagat Sang, Kennedy Kimutai, Hillary Kipkoech (Reserve)
Men's javelin - Julius Yego
Men's 4 by 100m - Ferdinand Omanyala, Steve Onyango Odhiambo, Meshack Kitsubuli Babu, Mark Otieno Odhiambo, Dennis Mwai, Clinton Aluvi Owatinya, Isaac Kundu Omurwa.
Mixed/Men's 4 by 400m - Allan Kipyego, Boniface Ontuga Mweresa, Zablon Ekhal Ekwam, Dennis Masika Mulongo, David Sanayek Kapirante, Kelvin Kiprotich Tonui.
4 by 400m mixed women's - Mercy Chebet, Lanoline Aoko, Esther Mbagari.
How much Wanyonyi, Koech earned at London Diamond League
In a separate report, Wanyonyi and Phanuel Koech earned a tidy sum of money after the London Diamond League.
Wanyonyi won the men's 800m, beating his main rival Marco Arop, for his fourth Diamond League win of the season.
Koech, meanwhile, laid another marker, winning the men's 1500m after beating world champion, Josh Kerr.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
