Athletics Kenya has handed the marathon team to the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) ahead of the Olympic Games in Paris, France.
AK President Jack Tuwei named six athletes with two reserves with men and women having three athletes each.
Tuwei said: “We know that we have selected the best for this country and we have hope that they will bring a win from both sides and we are also hopeful that all of them will reach the podium,” he said.
Double Olympic Games marathon champion Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir will lead the men and women title chase.
Kipchoge will Marshall forces with newly crowned Tokyo marathon champion Benson Kipruto, and newly crowned London marathon champion Alexander Mutiso Munyau while Timothy Kiplagat will be a reserve athlete.
For women, Jepchirchir will lead Olympic marathon silver medalist Brogid Kosgei and Chicago marathon champion Hellen Obiri and Sharon lokedi as reserve runner.
NOC-K president Paul Tergat said that they have seen the profiles of each athlete and it was not easy to come up with the team.
He added that as NOC-K they are expecting to send about 100 athletes to Paris with the Athletics Kenya carrying the biggest contingent with team sport like rugby and volleyball women already qualified.
“We are trying to give athletes in camps to prepare adequately,” he said.
Marathon team
Men team
- Eliud Kipchoge
- Benson Kipruto
- Alexander Mutiso Munyau
- Timothy Kiplagat (reserve)
Women
- Peres Jepchirchir
- Hellen Obiri
- Brigid Kosgei
- Sharon lokedi (reserve)
Left out
- Ruth Chepngetich
- Rosemary Wanjiru
- Vincent Ngetich