How can athletics Kenya make such a stupid decision not to select makau? For heavens sake this is the world record holder, ati because he dropped out in London. Kenyans should only expect one medal from Kipsang, nothing from Kirui and Mosop. I hear kales are not happy that the record is held by a Kao - talk about taking Kenyan tribalism to the next level...

its silly.

There is a lot of misinformation here. Makau being left out has nothing to do with his not being a kale.

Athletics Kenya probably has the hardest job of selecting 6 men from a field that features the best in the world. Patrick Makau may be the world record holder but he is not Kenyas or the worlds fastest marathoner. That title is Geoffrey Mutai's and second is Moses Mosop. So if it was purely on who can run fastest he would still come third.

Then you also have to consider recent form in the run up to the marathon. Since winning the Berlin marathon and setting the world record in September 2011 he has come second in a half marathon and did not finish the recent London marathon. Compare that recent form with that of Kipsang who won the Frankfurt marathon in October 2011 with a time of 2:03:42 just 4 seconds short of Makaus world record on a course that is much inferior to Berlin and then won the London marathon in a time 4 seconds shy of the course record. So again on this point Kipsang would definitely deserve a place ahead of Makau.

Olympics are run in the summer and without pace setters. Makau's triumphs are in city marathons that have pacesetters and are run under almost ideal cool fall or spring conditions. I would therefore choose Abel Kirui who has won 2 world championships in summer ahead of Makau, not to mention he came in 6th in the London marathon in which he was up there pushing the pace for most of the race.

Again just on recent form I would choose Martin Lel ahead of Makau.

This has nothing to do with tribe. It is a tough choice and simply because Makau is a world record holder for which we are very proud he just does not make the cut at this time. No other Olympic selection committee in the world has this kind of problem. They wish they did. We have just 6 slots and have maybe 10 or more people capable of winning a gold in the marathon. Its a tough choice.

Kusadikika, thank you for explaining that!!!!......surely saying that Makau was left coz of his tribe is a shame to Kenya!!!

I can't blame AK. Picking Kenya's men and women marathon teams must be the toughest thing ever. I don't know what I'd have done.