Brigid Kosgei working on speed ahead of the Olympics

World Marathon women’s record holder Brigid Kosgei says her 10,000m test run at the Olympics trials held at Kasarani last weekend revealed that her speed is wanting and she has some work to do ahead of the Olympics. 

Kosgei is one of the three women who carry the country's hopes of retaining the Olympics gold won by Jemimah Sumgong in Rio back in 2016. 

Kosgei won the London Marathon in 2019 and set the marathon world record in Chicago later that same year. In 2020, she won in London again, crushing the rest of the stacked elite field.

"I did the 10,000m run just to test myself in a fast field and I can tell I am a bit slow. I go back to my training with this in mind and I am confident by the time we head to the Olympics I will be in a better place. In Tokyo, I know the expectations are high and we will work as a team to bring home the medals," said Kosgei. 

She will team up with Peres Jepchirchir who may be the least experienced in marathon but comes with a good half-marathon experience. 

Jepchirchir started her marathon career with a 2:47:33 debut in 2013, followed by a 2:23:50 in 2019 and finally her PB of 2:17:16 from her win at the Valencia Marathon last year.

She has also proven to be one of the best half-marathoners in history after setting the women-only half-marathon world record on two occasions in 2020 and winning the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Poland.

Another favourite for the title is World champion Ruth Jepngetich. She bossed it on N Kolay Istanbul Half Marathon in April this year to win in a new World Record of 1:04:02 hours. She has run the 20th fastest half marathon of all-time at 2019 Bahrain Half Marathon in a time of 66:09 (1:06:09). She also ran 12th fastest half marathon of all-time at 2019 Vodafone Istanbul Half Marathon in a time of 65:30 (1:05:30).

On 28 September 2019, Chepngetich won the global title during the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, clocking 2:32.43 after a start at midnight.

Vivian Cheruiyot, the reigning Olympic 5,000m champion,  who was expected to bring her Olympics experience, on track, to the marathon has since opted out of the team.