After winning double gold in the Budapest World Athletics Championships, Faith Kipyegon will be targeting her third title of the year when she participates in the Riga Road Running Championships on October 1, 2023.

The world champion has been named on Kenya’s team that will fly the country’s flag in the Latvian capital, and this offers the 29-year-old another chance to add more accolades to her collection.

Kipyegon’s first-ever chance

Participating in the road mile means Kipyegon is competing in that race for the first time, and while she makes her debut, there is a third chance to win another medal after conquering Budapest, where she won gold in the 1500m and 5000m races.

Nelly Chepchirchir, who set a personal best of 3:56.72 in the Xiamen Diamond League recently, is also on the team, as is Beatrice Chepkoech, the steeplechase world record holder.

Beatrice Chebet, the world cross country champion, has been selected to compete in the 5km race, and she will battle it out with Caroline Nyaga and Lillian Kasait.

Peres Chepchirchir, the Olympic marathon champion who managed to set a women’s only world record at the 2020 World Half Marathon Championships, will compete in the distance alongside Irine Kamais and Margaret Chelimo.

Men’s representatives

Kenya’s men’s team has Reynold Cheruiyot, the world U20 champion, and Abel Kipsang, the world indoor bronze winner, and both will run in the mile.

Nicholas Kipkorir, the national record holder at 12:55, and Stanley Waithaka, the 2022 10000m world silver winner, are going to represent Kenya in the men’s 5k race.

Daniel Ebenyo, who starred in Budapest and won silver in the process, has been entered for the half marathon and will be up against Bernard Kibet, Charles Kipkirui Lang’at, and Sabastian Kimaru Sawe. Ebenyo’s Kenyan rivals enjoy sub-59-minute personal bests.

Kenyan team for Riga

Men
Mile: Reynold Kipkorir Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, and Kyumbe Munguti
5km: Cornelius Kemboi, Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, Stanley Waithaka Mburu
Half marathon: Daniel Simiu Ebenyo, Bernard Kibet, Charles Kipkirui Lang’at, Samwel Nyamai Mailu, and Sabastian Kimaru Sawe

Women
Mile: Nelly Chepchirchir, Beatrice Chepkoech, and Faith Kipyegon
5km: Beatrice Chebet, Caroline Nyaga, Lilian Kasait Rengeruk
Half marathon: Janeth Chepngetich, Peres Jepchirchir, Irine Jepchumba Kimais, Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, and Catherine Relin