Kipchoge and Kosgei to headline Kenyan marathoners at 2020 Olympics
Lawrence Cherono, Ruth Chepngetich and Vivian Cheruiyot and others will round out the Kenyan squad in Sapporo
Athletics Kenya has announced that marathon world record-holders Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei will lead the Kenyans chosen to represent their country in the 2020 Olympic marathon in Sapporo. Marathon world champion Ruth Chepngetich and 2018 London Marathon champion Vivian Cheruiyot will also race, as will Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono and 2018 Berlin Marathon runner-up Amos Kipruto.Â
We have named Kenya's Marathon team for @Tokyo2020 They are Record holder @EliudKipchoge @WorldAthletics marathon bronze medalist @AmoskiprutoS & 2019 @ChiMarathon Champ #LawrenceCherono. Japan-based #BedanKaroki & #TitusEkiru are the squad’s reserve athletes. @mylottokenya pic.twitter.com/XPjlqe84TQ
— Athletics Kenya (@athletics_kenya) January 31, 2020
2:05 marathoner and 2019 Tokyo Marathon runner-up Bedan Karoki, 2019 Honolulu marathon champion and course record-holder Titus Ekiru, 2:21 marathoner Sally Chepyego and 2019 Frankfurt Marathon champion Valary Jemeli will be the team’s reserve athletes.
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Kipchoge is also the reigning Olympic champion who will defend his title in the marathon, though with all his accomplishments since 2016, that is sometimes forgotten.
Canada will announce team selections in May. The top three men and women at U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials, coming up on February 29 in Atlanta, will represent the U.S. in the Olympic marathon.
The U.K.’s Sir Mo Farah has announced he will return to the track in Tokyo and will not race the marathon. Farah is the defending 10,000m and 5,000m champion.
The men’s marathon is scheduled to take place in Sapporo on Sunday, August 9 at 7 a.m. local time (Saturday, August 8 at 5 p.m. ET) and the women’s on Saturday, August 8 at 7 a.m. local time (Friday, August 7 at 5 p.m. ET). The complete schedule of events can be found here. Track and field competition begins Friday, July 31.
RELATED: IOC reveals Sapporo 2020 Olympic marathon course
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