Athletics Kenya has named its team for the World Athletics Championships marathons in Budapest. Kelvin Kiptum, who ran 2:01:25 at the London Marathon, and women’s marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei headline the selections.

Here’s what you need to know:

– Athletics Kenya shared a press release naming three men and three women for the World Championship marathons, plus two reserves for each.

– The men’s team is comprised of London Marathon champion Kelvin Kiptum, who ran the second-fastest time in history at just 23 years old in his second career marathon. Geoffrey Kamworor, the three-time world half marathon champion and two-time world cross country champion, was selected after a 2:04:23 personal best behind Kiptum in London. Titus Kipruto, who finished fourth at the Tokyo Marathon in 2:05:32 back in March was also named to the team.

– 2022 Melbourne Marathon champion Timothy Kiplagat Rono (2:07:01 personal best) and Commonwealth Games bronze medalist Michael Mugo Githae (2:07:28 personal best) are the men’s team reserves.

– The women’s team is comprised of world record holder and Olympic silver medalist Brigid Kosgei. She dropped out of the London Marathon after less than a mile. Tokyo Marathon champion Rosemary Wanjiru, whose personal best of 2:16:28 is the fastest women’s marathon time of the year was also named to the team. Sheila Chepkirui is coming off a 2:18:51, fourth place finish at the London Marathon. She owns a 2:17:29 personal best from last year’s Valencia Marathon.

– Barcelona Marathon runner-up Selly Chepyego Kaptich (2:20:03 personal best) and Prague Marathon runner-up Margaret Wangari Muriuki (2:23:52 personal best) are the women’s team reserves.

Our take:

I usually don’t buy into these early announcements for Kenya’s world championship marathon teams. So much can change between now and August. I would be surprised if Kiptum passes on a lucrative payday in Berlin to chase Eliud Kipchoge’s world record. The world championships marathon is scheduled for August 27th and Berlin is less than a month later so there’s no way he doubles. However, he just got some big praise from Kipchoge. –Chris Chavez