By Mike Rowbottom

Patrick Makau_celebrates_world_marathon_record_Berlin_September_2011April 26 - Kenya's world marathon record holder Patrick Makau (pictured), who failed to finish Sunday's (April 22) Virgin London Marathon with a reported hamstring strain, has been left out of the Olympic team.


There is no place either for three-times London winner Martin Lel, who finished second in Sunday's race.

Athletics Kenya have selected Wilson Kipsang (pictured below, right), the London winner, Abel Kirui, the two-time IAAF (International Association of Athletics Federations) World Championships gold medallist who finished sixth on Sunday and reigning Chicago champion Moses Mosop who was third in the recent Rotterdam Marathon, to carry the Olympic hopes of the East African nation.

Makau, who set his world record of 2 hours 03min 38sec in last October's BMW Berlin Marathon, dropped out of the London race after 10 kilometres, but his management team say he was only suffering from a sciatica problem and that he will be back in full training "within the next few days".

Zane Branson, of Makau's management team Possosports Europe, said on the company website: "It is our belief that Mr. Patrick Makau, current Marathon World record holder, should have been included in this team."

He added: "Also, we would like to set the record straight and inform all interested parties – Mr. Makau's problem in the Virgin London Marathon this past weekend was obviously contrary to what we expected, but we have been assured that the injury is not serious.

Martin Lel_April_26
"He does have full flexibility in his left leg and we have been assured the issue is not a hamstring muscle strain, but apparently a mild case of sciatic irritation.

"Mr. Makau will be back in full training within the next few days."

Lel, 33, (pictured above, left) adopted a fatalistic attitude to his selection after finishing in London, saying that he had run without pressure as he was not one of the shortlist of six runners named earlier this month by the national federation.

As expected, the first three women runners home in London – Mary Keitany, who defended her London title, world champion Edna Kiplagat and world silver medallist Priscah Jeptoo – were chosen for London 2012.

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Related stories
April 2012: Kenyans dominate Virgin London Marathon
October 2011: Kipsang's super-fast Frankfurt Marathon win gives Kenya a selection problem
September 2011: Kenyan sets world record in Berlin Marathon as Gebrselassie drops out