Personae, now in its 10th year as the track & field athlete management arm of Golazo Sports, will represent an experienced and highly-accomplished group of 22 athletes at the 16th IAAF world championships in London. Featuring three defending world champion medalists, two ’16 Rio Olympic Games medalists, and this season’s world no. 1 women’s steeplechaser, Celliphine Chespol, the group includes several more athletes with experience in Olympic and world championships competition. A review of the athletes follows below.
Eunice Kirwa Jepkirui has reached the podium in the two most recent global championships, having earned the silver medal in the ’16 Rio Olympic Marathon, which followed her bronze medal in the event at the ’15 Beijing world championships. Her time of 2:21:17 from winning Marathon Nagoya for the third straight time currently ranks 6th on the ’17 world marathon chart.
Ruth Jebet in 2016 won the 3000m steeplechase gold medal in the Rio Olympic Games, as well as setting a new world record of 8:52.75 in the event at the Paris Diamond League meeting. Her season best time of 9:01.99 (DL Doha) currently ranks her 4th in the world in the steeple.
Philip Milanov earned the silver medal in the discus throw at the ’15 Beijing world championships, with his mark in this competition establishing a new Belgian record of 66.90m. While Milanov was not able to advance out of the qualifying round in the ’16 Rio competition, he did claim the silver medal at the ’16 European championships in Amsterdam, as well as improving his national record to 67.26m (DL Doha). Milanov’s throw of 67.05m at DL Stockholm currently puts him in 5th place on the ’17 discuss world chart.
Gesa Krause brings a solid resume of steeplechase accomplishments to London, topped by the bronze medal at the ’15 Beijing world championships and the gold medal at the ’16 European championships in Amsterdam. While only 24 years-old, Krause is already a two-time Olympian in her specialty event, reaching the final in both ’12 London (8th) and ’16 Rio (6th). Her 9:15.70 from DL Doha improved her own German record and the mark currently ranks her 9th in the world.
Celliphine Chespol is indeed a newcomer to the steeplechase world elite at the senior level, but is no stranger to the podium at youth and junior world championship events. She won gold medals at both the ’15 IAAF world youth championships in Cali (2000m SC) and at the ’16 IAAF world junior championships in Bydgoszcz (3000m SC). Chespol’s personal best of 8:58.78 from her victory at DL Eugene in May is a Kenyan and world junior record, and currently ranks her no. 1 in the world.
Alice Aprot Nawowuna finished 4th at the ’16 Rio games 10000m in a time of 29:53.51, making her the all-time 2nd fastest Kenyan performer and all-time world no. 5 performer in the event. Aprot this spring finished 2nd in the IAAF world cross country championships in Kampala.
Ferguson Rotich has no global championships podium finishes to his name, but over the last three seasons has established himself as a consistent contender among the world’s top 800m specialists. His achievements include 5th place at the ’15 Beijing world championships; 4th place at the ’16 Rio Olympic Games, and winning the ’16 Diamond League points competition in the 800m. His 800m personal best of 1:42.84 (’14 DL Monaco) puts him at 9th on the Kenyan all-time performers listing for the event.
The remaining Personae-managed athletes selected to compete in London are Ann Zagre (100m Hurdles), Rose Chelimo (Marathon), Winfred Yavi (3000m SC), Purity Kirui (3000m SC), Emily Cherotich (800m), Yarigo Noelie (800m), Mahlet Mulugeta (800m), Sarah Ramadhani (Marathon), Ismael Debjani (1500m), Bashir Abdi (5000m), Kipyegon Bett (800m), Davis Kiplangat (5000m), Albert Rop (5000m), Abraham Cheroben (10000m), and Homiyu Tesfaye (1500m).
The 2017 IAAF World Championships will be staged 4. August through 13. August in the stadium at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, site of the track & field competition of the 2012 London Olympic Games.