NAIROBI, Jan, 5 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's supremacy in road races has been reaffirmed with global athletics governing body (IAAF) ranking showing the country produced 89 out of 100 fastest marathoners in 2017.
Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and London silver medalist Mary Keitany retained the top status as the best runners in the season that ended.
However, Kenya is closely challenged by Ethiopians which placed 26 marathoners in best 100.
It was a much closer race between Kenya and Ethiopia for the most runners in the top 100. Kenya edged out Ethiopia 37 to 36. Other countries in the top 100 include: Japan (9); USA (7), Burundi (4); Australia (2); Portugal (2); Mexico (1); Belarus (1) and Germany (1).
However, Athletics Kenya Vice Chairman Barnaba Korir said on Friday the country is under more pressure as new athletes emerge from U.S., China, Japan and Arab countries with stronger credential, especially at the World Championships and the Olympics.
"We must always be alert. There is always competition. However, for the benefit of the sport, it is always good to find new winners across the country that are not Africans or Kenyans and Ethiopians. It inspires more competition," said Korir.
But in the new ranking there was no denying Berlin marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge his moment of glory as king again.
Kipchoge clocked the fastest men's marathon of 2017 with his 2:03:32 in a failed attempt to break the world record (2:02:57) in Berlin in September.
He also has the unofficial fastest time from his 2:00:25 in the Breaking2 attempt hosted by Nike under optimized conditions on the Formula 1 track in Monza, Italy.
He has only lost once in the eight races he has competed in since graduating from the track.
On the women's side, Mary Keitany set the women's-only world record of 2:17:01 in her London Marathon win. Only Paula Radcliffe has run faster in history.
Korir, who will be the team leader for Kenya at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast in Australia in April, warned that Kenya must work hard and take each competition seriously.
