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Veteran athletics coach Julius Kirwa, who settled on the star-studded Olympics marathon squad for Team Kenya, remains confident in Kenya's dominance.
Veteran athletics coach Julius Kirwa has disclosed that Kenya’s dominance in marathon races is far from over despite missing out on the men’s and women’s titles at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
While Kenya failed to defend the marathon crowns they had secured at the Tokyo 2020 Games, Kirwa remains confident that the East African nation continues to be a global powerhouse in the 42-kilometer race.
Kenya managed to secure podium finishes in both races in Paris, with Benson Kipruto clinching bronze in the men’s race and Hellen Obiri earning the same in the women’s.
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Although there was disappointment that Olympic legends like Eliud Kipchoge did not finish, and defending women’s champion Peres Jepchirchir placed far from the podium, Kirwa insists that this is not a sign of decline.
“We secured podium finishes in both races despite not defending our titles. If you look at the top three times, they are very close, and this shows how intense the competition was,” said Kirwa as per The Star.
“Those results do not mean we have lost our grip on marathons globally. We are still a force to be reckoned with.”
At the Paris Olympics, Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola claimed gold in the men’s race, while Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won the women’s marathon.
Kenya, however, maintained a significant presence in the top finishers, with Kipruto finishing third in the men’s race and Obiri narrowly missing out on silver in the women’s event.
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Kirwa pointed out that the Paris course, which featured tough hills and high humidity, presented unique challenges for Kenyan athletes, who were less accustomed to such conditions.
“The Paris course was very hilly, with 1km elevations that made it extremely hard for our athletes. The humidity was also high, which posed a problem, but these conditions are not indicative of our athletes’ abilities,” he added.
Despite the challenges, Kirwa remains optimistic as Kenya looks forward to the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
He highlighted that Kenya has a strong history of performing well in Asia, and the upcoming championships present a prime opportunity for the country to reclaim its marathon titles.
“Asia is an area we traditionally do well in, so we expect good results in Tokyo,” said the veteran coach.
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Kirwa acknowledged the rise of competition from other nations like Ethiopia, the Netherlands, and Belgium, but he stressed that early preparation and teamwork would be key to regaining Kenya’s winning edge.
He also emphasized the importance of incorporating cross-country training as part of marathon preparation.
“Cross-country will be crucial for our athletes. It builds up speed, strength, endurance, and stamina, which are necessary for the rough and hilly courses we often encounter,” he noted.
Reflecting on past championships, Kirwa cited Kenya’s past successes, including Geoffrey Kirui’s 2017 world title in London and Ruth Chepngetich’s 2019 victory in Doha.
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Despite Kenya falling short in recent world championships, including the 2022 event in Eugene and the 2023 championships in Budapest, Kirwa believes Kenya’s marathon dominance is not fading.
“We need to start preparing early for Tokyo 2025 because other countries are coming up strong,” Kirwa explained.
“But with proper planning and teamwork, we are confident that Kenya will continue to be a force to reckon with in marathon running.”
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