Lel looks certain to represent Kenya in Beijing

By Sabrina Yohannes

LONDON (Reuters) - London marathon champion Martin Lel looks certain to represent Kenya at the Beijing Olympics after breaking the course record in Sunday's race.

Lel retained his title in a personal best of two hours five minutes 15 seconds with compatriot Sammy Wanjiru, the world half-marathon record holder, finishing second nine seconds behind after a thrilling sprint finish.

"We are in the process of selecting and I think he (Lel) has a very good chance," Ibrahim Hussein, assistant secretary of Athletics Kenya and secretary of the selection committee, told Reuters. "I think he must be in the team. If you don't put Martin in, who else will you put?

"He ran the fastest time, he has broken the record here. We have been following them for the last one year and a half or two to see how they are doing, and I think Martin has fulfilled what we need from him."

Athletics Kenya general secretary David Okeyo said Lel and Wanjiru were the "highest probables for the Olympics -- if I can use such a word".

Lel, who has now won the title for three years in a row, said Beijing was a goal.

"It was in my mind," he said. "I just proved today my body is in the right condition for the Olympics."

Okeyo praised Lel and Wanjiru as well as Kenya's William Kipsang, who won the Rotterdam marathon on Sunday, for their victories. Kipsang clocked 2:05:50 in the Dutch city, leading Daniel Rono and Charles Kamathi to a Kenyan sweep.