Kenya names marathon team for Rio Olympics

As speculated London Marathon winners, Eliud Kipchoge and Jemimah Sumgong will lead Kenya's ultimate distance team to the August Rio Olympics in Brazil.

Athletics Kenya officially announced the team on Tuesday that will represent Kenya during the Olympic Games in Rio De Janeiro on from Aug. 12-21.

Kipchoge, who ran the second fastest Marathon of all time when won London on April 24 with 2:03:05, will be making his third Olympics showing for Kenya after winning 5000m silver in Beijing 2008 and finishing fourth in the 2004 edition in Athens at the same distance.

He will be joined in the men's team by New York Marathon winner, Stanley Biwott, who followed him across the line in a career best 2:03:52 in London.

Wesley Korir will make history as the first sitting Parliamentarian to run for Kenya after the 2012 Boston Marathon winner was also included in the team of 10 that has four reserves as the last men's competitor.

Korir is the Member for Parliament of Cherangany Constituency in Northern Kenya.

Paris Marathon winner Cyprian Kotut and Bernard Kipyego are the standby male marathoners in the men's team.

Beijing World Championships silver medalist Helah Kiprop, London winner Sumgong and Paris titleholder, Visiline Jepkesho are the automatic selections in the women's team.

Two-time London Marathon and past New York winner, Mary Keitany and twice Berlin and former Chicago champion, Florence Kiplagat are the reserves in the women's squad.

Richard Metto has been appointed the coach of the team. Endit