Kipchoge, Kiptum, Jepchirchir, Kosgei headline Kenya's Paris 2024 marathon long-list
The reigning Olympic champions and current men's and former women's world record holders have been named to a 20-strong provisional Kenyan marathon squad for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, with the final team of five men and five women to be announced at the end of January.
Marathon powerhouses Kenya have announced their 20-strong provisional squad for the Olympic Games Paris 2024, with defending Olympic champions Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir among the headliners in the team.
The current men's world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, who ran a 2:00:35 at the Chicago Marathon in October, and former women's world record holder Brigid Kosgei have also made the long-list.
The provisional team contains 10 men and 10 women, and will be pared down to the final list of three competing athletes and two reserves in each event in late January 2024.
As National Olympic Committees have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games, the athletes' participation at the Paris Games depends on the NOC of Kenya (NOC-K) selecting them to represent Kenya at Paris 2024.
According to Athletics Kenya's Paul Mutwii, the 20 long-listed athletes were chosen based on world ranking and performances this year in important marathon races.
"We also considered consistency, anti-doping requirements, discipline, willingness, and championship mentality and attitude of the athletes," he was quoted as saying according to Kenya's Daily Nation. "There are those athletes who do well with pacesetters and those who don't. We have taken that into consideration too."
Olympic Games marathons are run without pacesetters, whereas most major marathon races do employ the use of them.
Other athletes on the long-list include 2019 women's world champion Ruth Chepng'etich and two-time Olympic silver medallist in the 5000m Hellen Obiri, the 2023 Boston Marathon and New York City Marathon champion.
Athletes from Kenya have won both marathon races at the last two Olympic Games at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, with Kipchoge taking both men's gold medals. If selected for the final team, he will aim for an unprecedented third straight gold medal.
Kenya's provisional Paris 2024 marathon team: Full long-list
- Men: Kelvin Kiptum, Eliud Kipchoge, Vincent Kipkemoi Ng'etich, Timothy Kiplagat, Benson Kipruto, Bernard Kiprop Koech, Geoffrey Kamworor, Cyprian Kotut, Amos Kipruto, Titus Kipruto
- Women: Ruth Chepng'etich, Rosemary Wanjiru, Joycilline Jepkosgei, Sheila Chepkirui, Peres Jepchichir, Judith Jeptum Korir, Seley Chepyego Kaptich, Hellen Obiri, Sharon Lokedi, Brigid Kosgei