Ruth Chepngetich and Geoffrey Kamworor to lead marathon team to World Championships

Reigning 2019 Women's Marathon champion Ruth Chepngetich will be looking to defend her title at the 18th Edition of the World Athletics Championships scheduled to be held from July 15 to July 24 in Eugene, Oregon, United States.

At the last Championships hosted in Doha, Qatar, Chepngetich powered through brutal heat and humidity to win gold in the women's marathon.

With around two dozen runners in the 68-strong marathon field falling by the wayside as the sweltering conditions took their toll, Chepngetich dug deep to win gold in a time of 2 hours 32 minutes and 43 seconds.

Chepngetich is set to lead a strong team of four female athletes who include Judith Jeptum, Maureen Jepkemoi and Angela Tanui. Jeptum on Sunday April 3, broke the Paris Marathon record.

Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya celebrates after winning the women's marathon at the IAAF World Athletics Championships in Doha, Qatar, September 27, 2019. /CFP Pulse Live Kenya

Last year, Angela Tanui wrote her name in the history books of the top ten fastest women runners in the world as she smashed the course record of the Amsterdam Marathon that was held on Sunday October 17, in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Kamworor to lead the men's team

Meanwhile the men's team will be led by two-time World Half Marathon champion Geoffrey Kamworor. He has earned three consecutive gold medals at the World Half Marathon Championships and is a back-to-back winner of the world cross-country title.

Aside from Kamworor, 2019 Chicago Marathon champion Lawrence Cherono and Barnabas Kiptum finish up the men's team that also has the 2017 World marathon men's champion Geoffrey Kirui on standby.

The women's team for the Commonwealth Games comprises 2020 Los Angeles Marathon winner Margaret Wangare, 2019 Nairobi Marathon champion Purity Changwony and 2021 Rotterdam Marathon champion Stella Barsosio. Viola Cheptoo is a reserve.

World Half Marathon legend Geoffrey Kamworor (smiling) and 1,500m Olympic silver medalist Timothy Cheruiyot interact with fans at a previously held Nike photoshoot. Pulse Live Kenya

The men's team for "Club" Games has Philemon Katherine, who finished third at Valencia Marathon last year, Eric Kiptanui and Jonathan Korir. Michael Githare is a reserve.

The trials for the World Athletics Championships will be held on June 24 to 25 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani while those for Commonwealth Games trials will be staged on May 20 to 21 at the same venue.