体坛英语新闻：Kenya names strong squad for Daegu world championships

NAIROBI, July 15 (Xinhua) -- Kenya named a strong squad of 54 for the World Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea next month as the curtains came down on the national trials in Nairobi Saturday.

Of course top names like David Rudisha, the world 800m record holder, Vivian Cheruiyot, Ezekeiel Kemboi were all included in the star studded team, which will seek to improve on the third place the country finished in the last championships in Berlin in 2009.

However, some big names were left scratching their scalps after they failed to weather the storm including world indoor 1,500m champion Haron Keitany, Olympic 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Eunice Jepkorir and Daniel Kipchirchir Komen, the former world indoor 1,500m silver medallist.

There was no love lost as brother gamed up against brother, friends turned the knife in their folks back and teammates threw the rule book through the window as they put their best foot forward in bid to make the team to Daegu.

World 800m record holder David Rudisha maintained his unbeaten run for almost two years when he powered his way to a 1:43.76 time to win the two lap race at the Kenyan national trials for the World Championships in Nairobi.

"Today race was very competitive. But I know how to control the pace from the front and I am confident, Kenya is going to win in Daegu," said Rudidha, Saturday in Nairobi.

However, it was a major relief for Africa 800m bronze medallist Jackson Kivuva who was second to qualify for the second world championships.

"I can't believe that I run 1:44 here at home. I struggle to run that abroad and to come from the shadows and claim a spot in the Kenya team is a major achievement for me," said Kivuva Saturday in Nairobi.