Nairobi, Kenya - Kenya named a star-studded Athens Olympics marathon team today spearheaded by World record holder Paul Tergat and women’s World champion Catherine Ndereba.

Olympics silver medallist Eric Wainaina, gunning for his third straight Olympics medal, after bronze and silver in Atlanta and Sydney, received the news of his inclusion with elation, his local manager Sunichi Kobayashi confirmed.

The third men’s runner, Sammy Korir impressed selectors with his team spirit after pacing second to Tergat in Berlin last year.

Athletics Kenya also included World Half Marathon champion Martin Lel and Rodgers Rop, former New York Marathon winner, as team reserves.

Ndereba's long term Athens aim

Ndereba who accepted to compete in Paris World Championships on the understanding she would also be selected for Athens will be joined by New York champion Margaret Okayo and upcoming Alice Chelagat, winner of the first Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon last year.

Tergat said this would be Kenya's best ever opportunity to win their countries first ever Olympic Marathon gold medal "but it will be a challenging task," he said. "The course is tough with many hilly sections  and at the Olympics you will never know about the other person," said Tergat, currently under-going intensive training in Ngong Hills in the outskirts of the city ahead of taking part in the London Marathon next month.

Athletics Kenya Coaching Commission recommended this team which can be described as the best in Kenya at the moment but unable to find suitable reserves for the women's team owing to the limited numbers of quality women marathoners, Athletics Kenya chairman Isaiah Kiplagat said.

"We have always produced the bulk of world's leading marathon runners but the Olympics title has eluded us so far. But I believe we have a winning team this time.”