Olympic gold medallists Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir will lead Kenyas marathon team to the Olympic Games Paris 2024. <\/p>\n
Athletics Kenya and the National Olympics Committee of Kenya named the final squad of six on Wednesday (May 1). <\/p>\n
Two-time defending Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge headlines the mens list, following the death of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum. The two men were expected to challenge for the gold medal in the Olympic race scheduled for 10 August. <\/p>\n
Kiptum died in a road accident aged 24 in February, five months after lowering the world record to 2:00:35 at the 2023 Chicago Marathon. <\/p>\n
Former world record holder Kipchoge is joined by Benson Kipruto and the newly crowned London Marathon champion Alexander Munyao. <\/p>\n
Timothy Kiplagat has been listed as a reserve. <\/p>\n
Kipchoge, who will be targeting an unprecedented third consecutive title in Paris, headlines the team as the fastest marathoner alive. Kipruto, who was second behind the late Kiptum in Chicago, is the fifth fastest of all-time. <\/p>\n
\"I always say the Olympic dream is a special dream,\" said the Kipchoge. <\/p>\n
He then added: \"The Olympic Games is what we all dream of as little kids starting out with our sport and is what motivates us the most today. I am beyond proud to be selected for the Kenyan team for the 5th time in my life. After winning the marathon gold medal in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, my focus will now be on Paris!\" <\/p>\n
Munyao was included in the team following his victory at the Prague Marathon last year before rounding off his season with a second place in Valencia. Last month he beat Olympic campion Kenenisa Bekele in London, his first win in a World Marathon Major. <\/p>\n
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Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir named in Kenya's final Paris 2024 Olympics marathon squad - Olympics<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Olympic gold medallists Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir will lead Kenyas marathon team to the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Athletics Kenya and the National Olympics Committee of Kenya named the final squad of six on Wednesday (May 1). Two-time defending Olympic marathon champion Kipchoge headlines the mens list, following the death of world record holder Kelvin Kiptum. Continue reading