Dennis Kimetto, the marathon world-record holder, will reportedly not be on Kenya’s team for the Rio Olympics.
Kimetto and previous world-record holder Wilson Kipsang are not on a list of three men likely to make up the Kenyan Olympic marathon team nor on a list of reserves, according to Reuters.
Kimetto and Kipsang withdrew from consideration due to anticipated heat and humidity in Rio in August, according to Flotrack.
Instead, the Kenyan Olympic marathon team will likely be reigning Berlin and London Marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge, New York City Marathon champion Stanley Biwott and Wesley Korir, the top Kenyan in the Boston Marathon on April 18 in fourth place, according to Reuters.
The women’s team will likely include London Marathon winner Jemima Sumgong, Chicago Marathon winner Florence Kiplagat and 2014 and 2015 New York City Marathon winner Mary Keitany, according to Reuters, which also named Joyce Chepkirui, the top Kenyan in the Boston Marathon in third place, as a possible selection.
Kimetto and Kipsang were considered questionable to be named to the team after declining results in recent major marathons.
Kimetto set the world record of 2:02:57 at the 2014 Berlin Marathon, then finished third at the 2015 London Marathon, dropped out of the 2015 World Championships and 2015 Fukuoka Marathon and placed ninth in the London Marathon on April 24.
Kipsang, who held the previous world record of 2:03:23, also dropped out of the 2015 World Championships, placed fourth at the 2015 New York City Marathon and fifth at the London Marathon on April 24.
In 2012, Kenya’s Olympic team did not include Patrick Makau, then the world-record holder, or Geoffrey Mutai, who then had the fastest 26.2-mile time ever (but on a course that wasn’t record eligible).