Kenya names final provisional list of marathon teams to Paris Olympics

Kenya has released the provisional list of athletes set to represent the country during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The men’s team will be led by veteran athlete Eliud Kipchoge who will be looking to win a historic third gold medal at the global showpiece.

Despite a recent setback during the Tokyo Marathon where he finished 10th, Kipchoge is looking to help Team Kenya defend their marathon title which he won in Tokyo back in 2020.

The team also features Munyao Alexander, Timothy Kiplagat, Benson Kipruto and Vincent Ngetich.

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Munyao was runner-up at the 2023 Valencia Marathon in a time of 2:03:11. His inclusion to the team offers him an opportunity to continue with his career progression in long races.

Kiplagat on the other hand was a close friend to the late marathon record holder Kelvin Kiptum and finished second in the 2024 Tokyo Marathon.

Kipruto, the long-distance runner who clinched the Tokyo marathon with a 2:02:16 stunning finish, is also among favourites to battle it with Kipchoge.

His Inclusion marks his long route to national fame with the 33-year-old keen to prove that the Tokyo win was not just ‘a good day in office’ performance.

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In 2021, he won the 125th Boston Marathon and the 2022 Chicago Marathon clocking 2:09:51 and 2:04:24 respectively.

In 2023, he finished second in the 2023 Chicago Marathon, with a personal best time of 2:04:02, 3 minutes behind the late Kiptum who went on to break the marathon world record.

Ngetich closed the podium finish in the Tokyo Marathon clocking 2:04:18.

The female team comprises of defending champion Peres Jepchirchir, Hellen Obiri, Brigid Koskei, Sharon Lokedi, Rosemary Wanjiru and Ruth Chepngetich.

Peres will be looking to defend her title after an emphatic win during the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where she crossed the line in two hours, 27 minutes and 20 seconds.

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The lineup also renews the battle between Peres and Kosgei who finished second during the Olympic Games.

The two-time world half marathon champion was 16 seconds ahead of Kosgei while USA’s Molly Seidel, a relative newcomer to the marathon, took home the bronze in two hours 27 minutes 46 seconds.

Obiri is also a favourite to help Kenya clinch the gold during the Paris Olympic Games after winning  Boston and New York Marathons last year.

The veteran athlete is also capitalizing on her experience to help team Kenya extend their marathon dominance during this year’s Olympic Games.

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Lokedi, a fast-rising female athlete is also included in the star-studded Kenyan team. She gained attention after winning the New York City Marathon in 2022 during her debut.

She did it with a superb performance, clocking in a 2:23:23, seven seconds ahead of Lonah Chemtai Salpeter of Israel (2:23:30) and 16 seconds ahead of reigning world champion Gotytom Gebreslase of Ethiopia (2:23:39).

With other accolades gained along the way, she is expected to be an important figure in the Kenyan team.

Wanjiru and Chepngetich are also touted to steer Kenya to glory and overcome competition from arch-rivals Ethiopia.

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