Kipchoge, Jepchirchir spearhead Kenya Olympic marathon team

Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir are expected to defend their titles in Paris after being named to Kenya's star-studded marathon team for the Summer Olympics, reported Xinhua.

Athletics Kenya on Wednesday announced the final three to travel, as well as a reserve for each of the men's and women's teams.

As expected, Kipchoge, the Rio and Tokyo Olympics winner, returns to bid for an unprecedented third successive Olympic gold.

However, Kipchoge, widely considered the greatest marathoner of all time, has struggled to impress. Having entered the Tokyo Marathon in March as an overwhelming favorite, Kipchoge only finished 10th, his worst career finish in 2:06:50.

The Berlin Marathon titleholder has recovered from such setbacks before, following a sixth-place finish in the 2023 Boston Marathon with a victory in the German capital.

Meanwhile, Benson Kipruto, the Tokyo Marathon winner (2:02:16), has earned his place in the men's team.

Newly-minted London Marathon winner Alexander Mutiso Munyao makes Team Kenya for the first time following his 2:04:01 victory in the British capital.

Mutiso will be seeking to win his nation another medal after scooping bronze in the 3,000m at the World Youth Championships in Donetsk, Ukraine in 2013.

Timothy Kiplagat, who finished second in Tokyo in 2:02:55, has been placed as a reserve in the men's team.

Having announced her return to form with a victory in London, Jepchirchir is on the hunt for a second women's Olympic gold in Paris.

The 30-year-old underlined her credentials after scorching to 2:16:16 - the world record in a women-only marathon - in London in April.

Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri, who won the 5,000m silver in Rio, also made the women's team.

Former world record holder Brigid Kosgei is the third athlete in the women's team, with Sharon Lokedi placed on the reserves.