Athletics Kenya has named two time Gold Coast Airport marathon champion Kenneth Mung’ara and Warsaw marathon champion Hellen Nzembi to represent Kenya at the 2018 Commonwealth Games set for April 4th to 15 in Gold Coast, Australia.
Mung’ara who has run 10 marathons in his careere, was the 2013 Standard Chartered Nairobi marathon will combine with 2017 Copenhagen marathon champion Julias Karinga and 2011 Gold Coast marathon champion Nicholas Kamakya.
Career marathon runner Mung’ara won the Gold Coast Airport marathon titles in 2015 before defending his title in 2016 but second in 2017.
He has 2010 Singapore marathon title, Toronto marathon (2008 and 2011) and 2009 in Mumbai marathon.
Karinga on the other hand is the Copenhagen marathon champion and Morocco’s Casablanca marathon title.
He also won the Dubail marathon (2012) and Kuala Lumba marathon in 2013.
Kamakya won the Gold Coast Marathon in 2011 and finished fourth at the 2012 Berlin Marathon.
In absence of defending champion Flomena Cheyech Daniels, reigning Mombasa marathon champion Shelmith Muriuki will take up the mantle.
Muriuki will be up against Kosice Peace marathon champion (with a course record of 2:27.34) Sheila Jerotich and 2014 Warsaw Marathon champion Hellen Nzembi will make the women’s team.
Kenyan women will be eyeing to retain the title that Cheyech won in 2014 Glasgow where she led compatriot Caroline Kilel to a one-two finish.
The men’s team are out to reclaim the title they lost in Glasgow to Australian Michael Shelley, who beat Kenya’s Stephen Chemlany to second place.
Commonwealth Games marathon team:
Men:
- Kenneth Mburu, 2. Nicholas Kamakya, 3. Julius Karinga
Women:
- Sheila Jerotich, 2. Shelmith Muriuki, 3. Hellen Nzembi