Peres Jepchirchir said she was relishing her imminent return to Japan for the first time since storming to Olympic marathon gold at the Covid-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.

Jepchirchir has been named as one of three Kenya women in the marathon squad for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 13-21. The other athletes include the current Rotterdam marathon champion Jackline Cherono and Magdalyne Masai, who was fourth in this year's Tokyo marathon.

Jepchirchir, 31, a two-time half world marathon champion, overcame intense heat to take gold at the Tokyo Olympics in August 2021, beating fellow Kenyan and former world marathon record-holder Brigid Kosgei. "I am happy with the confidence the Kenyan selectors have had in me despite the disappointment in the Paris Olympics," she told AFP in Nairobi.

"It's my first time to compete in the World Championships, and I'm looking forward to it," she added. "We know Ethiopia have selected a strong team and they're the defending champions. But I believe in the Kenya team and I pray God will give us health and strength that day to face them."

The women's marathon will be held on September 14, followed by the men's race a day later. The Kenyan men's team is led by Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, whose best time is 2:03:13, which he recorded while making his debut in the 2023 Berlin marathon when he finished second to Eliud Kipchoge.

Kipchoge, the two-time Olympic champion, will not take part in Tokyo.
Kenya's 58-member team

Women: 400m - Mercy Oketch; 800m - Mary Moraa, Lilian Odira, Vivian Kiprotich, Sarah Moraa; 1500m - Faith Kipyegon, Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore, Dorcas Ewoi; 5000m - Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Margaret Ekidor; 10000m - Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Janeth Chepngetich; 3000m S/Chase - Faith Cherotich, Doris Lemngole, Pamela Kosgeil; Marathon - Peres Jepchirchir, Jackline Cherono, Magdalyne Masai, Vivian Cheruiyot (Reserve); 4x400 Mixed Relay - Mercy Chebet, Lanoline Aoko, Esther Mbagari
Men: 100m - Ferdinand Omanyala; 400m - George Mutinda,Brian Tinega, Kevin Kipkorir; 800m - Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Nicholas Kiplangat Kebenei, Kelvin Loti; 1500m - Phanuel Kipkosgei Koech, Reynold Cheruiyot, Timothy Cheruiyot; 5000m - Nicholas Kipkorir; 10000m - Edwin Kurgat, Ismael Kipkirui, Benson Kiplangat; 3000m S/C - Edmund Serem, Simon Kiprop Koech, Abraham Kibiwott; 400m Hurdles - Wiseman Were; Marathon - Vincent Kipkemoi Ngetich, Erick Kiplangat Sang, Kennedy Kimutai, Hillary Kipkoech (reserve); Javelin - Julius Yego
Athletics unit provisionally suspends another Kenyan athlete

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) provisionally suspended another Kenyan athlete , just days after top runner Ruth Chepngetich received a suspension on suspicion of doping. Roncer Kipkorir Konga, 30, is best known for his victory at the Prague half-marathon in 2023 with a time of 59:43.

"The AIU has provisionally suspended Roncer Kipkorir Konga (Kenya) for Presence/Use of a Prohibited Substance (Testosterone)," according to a statement, posted on X.

It did not give any further details. The provisional ruling comes after Chepngetich, 30, was suspended after testing positive for the banned diuretic hydrochlorothiazide on March 14, according to the AIU.

It threatens to destroy a career that has seen her win the 2019 world marathon title in Doha and set the marathon world record in Chicago last October at 2hr 09min 56sec, making her the first woman to run the distance under 2hr 10min. Kenya worked to clean up its image after a string of doping scandals around the 2016 Rio Olympics led to it being declared non-compliant by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Nearly 130 Kenyan athletes, mainly long-distance runners, have been sanctioned for drugs offences since 2017, and Kenya has put in place a $25 million, five-year programme to attempt to combat the problem.
Ireland's first female track-and-field Olympian Kyle dies at 96

Maeve Kyle, Ireland's first female track-and-field Olympian, has died at the age of 96, the Olympic Federation of Ireland said. Kyle, who also earned more than 50 caps for the Irish national hockey team, appeared in the Melbourne 1956 Olympics, competing in the 100m and 200m races, becoming the first Irishwoman to compete in the discipline at the Games.

"She competed at three consecutive Olympic Games... at a time when women had to overcome huge prejudice and when opportunities in international athletics were extremely limited," the OFI said in a statement. Kyle reached the semi-finals in both 400m and 800m races at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. She won bronze in 400m at the European Indoor Athletics Championships two years later.

"We have lost a legend of Irish Olympic sport who rose to the top despite huge challenges in 1950s Ireland. She was an inspiration to us all," said OFI President Lochlann Walsh.