|
NAIROBI, Jan. 31-- World record holder Eliud Kipchoge and Brigid Kosgei will lead Kenya's marathon team to the Tokyo Olympic Games. In a message of intent, Kenya has picked the most successful runners for the task in Tokyo, giving Vivian Cheruiyot and Lawrence Cherono their dream ticket to the games. Athletics Kenya President Jackson Tuwei on Friday confirmed the names ending speculation on who will be making the Kenya team. The Olympic Games will run from July 24 to August 9 with the marathon moved to Sapporo city, due to heat concerns in Tokyo during the period. Kipchoge, who is yet to lose a marathon since 2013 will anchor the men's team with the silk of world marathon bronze medalist Amos Kipruto and Boston and Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono. "It is an honor to compete for Kenya. I will be there because Tokyo Olympics has always been in front of my mind. It is a strong team and I believe that with focus together we will achieve more," said Kipchoge on Friday. Kipchoge is the person who became the first man to run the marathon under two hours last year and is the marathon defending champion having won in Rio Games back in 2016 clocking 2:08:44, his slowest in the 14 races he has won. Tokyo marathon silver medalist Bedan Karoki was unlucky to make the cut and could only fit in on the reserves bench together with Honolulu marathon Titus Ekiru. The two can only make the team should one of the three selected runners pick an injury or pull out of the race. | 
