Korir surprise name in Kenya marathon team for Rio Olympics

Former Boston marathon champion Wesley Korir is the surprise inclusion in the Kenya marathon team to the Rio Olympics.

Korir, a politician in the Kenyan Parliament, finished fourth at Boston Marathon last month. But there will be no room for World record holder Dennis Kimetto and Olympic marathon bronze medalist Wilson Kipsang. Both were overlooked after they failed to finish the marathon race at last year' s World Championships in Beijing.

However, New York marathon champion Stanley Biwott and Paris marathon winner Cyprian Kotut will join London champion Eliud Kipchoge and Korir in the Kenya team.

The women team will be led by airforce soldier Jemimah Sumgong. Others are World Half Marathon record holder Florence Kiplagat, who finished third in London Marathon last month, World marathon silver medalist Helah Kiprop and Paris Marathon champion Visiline Jepkesho.

The team of eight runners - four men and four women - is to be named Tuesday by Athletics Kenya officials but athletes who have confirmed their selection, including London Marathon champions Eliud Kipchoge and Jemimah Sumgong, said they are ready for the task ahead.

"I have said before that running for Kenya is an honour no athlete can pass. I am honoured to have been informed that I will make the team. Athletics Kenya have called me and assured that I will lead the team to Rio Olympics. I' m confident I will claim my first victory at the Olympics," Kipchoge said on Tuesday from Eldoret.

"I should say it' s a strong team that is capable of sweeping the podium places."

This will be Kipchoge' s fourth Olympic race and the 33-year-old remained optimistic he will claim the gold medal, which is missing in his collection at the Games.

In Athens in 2004, he won bronze in 5,000m and later improved it to silver at the Beijing games. He however missed out on the London Games failing to make the Kenya team.

"Everyone enters such a race with an aim of winning and so I will go to Rio with an open mind. I want to do well and win the race," he said.

Kenyan men' s team will be eying a second gold medal at the Olympics after the late Samuel Wanjiru won the country its maiden title in 2008 in Beijing.

The women are chasing their first victory, Priscah Jeptoo having taken silver at the 2012 London Olympics.

Kenya team:

Men's:Eliud Kipchoge, Stanley Biwott, Cyprian Kotut, Wesley Korir.

Women: Jemimah Sumgong, Helah Kiprop, Florence Kiplagat, Visiline Jepkesho. Enditem