Ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games kicking off in July, Kenya has unveiled a “killer-squad” for the marathon event.
The six-man team, which was unveiled by Athletics Kenya on Wednesday, is made up of three men and three women with one reserve each on either side, with defending champions, Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchichir, as well as Hellen Obiri and Benson Kipruto leading the pack.
Others named in the final Kenyan Olympics team include London Marathon champion Alexander Mutiso and Tokyo Marathon winner Benson Kipruto while Timothy Kiplagat, who finished second in Tokyo, will be on standby incase any of the selected three cannot make it.
With the final team list, Jepchirchir will get a chance to defend her title as she heads to Paris in good form after winning the London Marathon in a new women’s-only world record last month.
Jepchirchir will be joined by Obiri who defended her Boston Marathon title last month, while Brigid Kosgei made the final three despite finishing fifth in London last month.
According to sports analysts, Kosgei’s experience seems to have convinced the panel of selectors given that 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.