Kenyan Athlete Receives Olympics Callup Week After Stunning Kenenisa Bekele
Athletics Kenya (AK) named the final list of the marathon team, which was slimmed down to eight from a stacked squad of 11 runners named last month.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Kenya's Alexander Munyao who shocked legendary Ethiopian marathoner Kenenisa Bekele to clinch victory in the 2024 London Marathon was rewarded for his victory on Wednesday, May 1 by being named into the eight-member marathon team set to represent the country in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Athletics Kenya (AK) named the final list of the marathon team, which was slimmed down to eight from a stacked squad of 11 runners named last month.
Munyao last week defied all odds to defeat Bekele on Sunday, April 21 in the final kilometre of the London Marathon, as he pumped up the pace to convincingly win the title, ensuring the title won by the late Kevin Kiptum last year remains with Kenya.
He clinched the win with a time of 2:04.01 which was better than Bekele's 2:04.15.
Alexander Munyao crossing the finish line to win the 2024 London Marathon on April 21, 2024. /VOA NEWS
The final marathon team also includes two-time Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge who will lead the men’s team. He is aiming to become the first athlete to win three Olympic marathon golds following his successes at Rio in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021.
Kipchoge won the 2016 Rio Olympics at a time of 2:08:44 and successfully defended the title by winning the 2020 Tokyo Olympics clocking 2:08:38.
“I really want to have a good performance. I, therefore, believe in my preparation and learning that I will be preparing and planning well," he spoke in Eldoret after he was included in the final team.
“However, this is a sport and accepting the outcome will really make it enjoyable. Making it this far is a huge calling and I trust to have a good performance.”
Kipchoge, 39, will become the oldest Kenyan track and field athlete to compete at an Olympics and the first Kenyan in any sport to compete in five different Olympics.
“The Olympic Games is what we all dream of as little kids starting out with our sport and is what motivates us the most today. I am beyond proud to be selected for the Kenyan team for the 5th time in my life. After winning the marathon gold medal in Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo, my focus will now be on Paris!”
Meanwhile, 2020 Olympic champion Peres Jepchirchir will anchor the women’s team. In London, she broke the women's only world record by clocking 2:16.16, which was better than the 2:17.01 set by Mary Keitany, and will be hoping to defend her Olympic title that she won by clocking 2:27.20.
Others included in the shortlist are Tokyo Marathon champion Benson Kipruto and Timothy Kiplagat, Tokyo Marathon Silver medalist who was named as a reserve in the men’s team.
Two-time Boston Marathon winner Hellen Obiri will join Jepchirchir in the women’s team alongside Brigid Kosgei, the London and Chicago marathon champion.
2022 New York Marathon winner Sharon Lokedi was named as a reserve in the women’s team, with the AK President stating that the reserves ‘will go all the way’ while at the same time hoping nothing would happen to the core team.
Speaking during the unveiling of the team Tuwei said they are confident that they have done their best in selecting the best team for the country and they wish the team well and hope they will bring good results.
Tuwei who was flanked by National Olympic Committee Kenya (NOCK) President Paul Tergat, and other officials said a group of experts helped in the selection of the final team to Paris.
