Eliud Kipchoge & Peres Jepchirchir to defend Olympics titles as Kenya unveils formidable final marathon team

Defending champions Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchichir will lead Kenya’s marathon team to the Olympics after being named in the final squad.

Athletics Kenya unveiled its final squad of six (three women and as many men), with one reserve either side, and as expected, Kipchoge will lead the men’s team alongside London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso and Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto.

Meanwhile, Timothy Kiplagat, who finished second in Tokyo, will be on standby incase any of the selected three cannot make it.

Meanwhile, Jepchirchir will get a chance to defend her title and heads to Paris in good form after winning the London Marathon in a new women’s-only world record last month.

She will be joined by Hellen Obiri, who defended her Boston Marathon title last month, while Brigid Kosgei has made the final three despite finishing fifth in London last month.

Kosgei’s experience seems to have convinced the panel of selectors given she won silver behind Jepchirchir at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, edging ahead of Sharon Lokedi, who finished second in Boston.

Lokedi will therefore be on standby as the reserve in case any of Obiri, Jepchirchir and Kosgei fail to make it to Paris.

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