Defending champion Evans Chebet and two-time winner Geoffrey Kamworor have withdrawn from the November 5 New York City Marathon, leaving Edward Cheserek and Korir to fly the Kenyan flag.
According to organizers, the Kenyan pair are among the withdrawn athletes, with just over three weeks until the race.
Chebet, who won the Boston Marathon in April, aimed for back-to-back victories on New York's streets after winning last year's race in 2:08:41.
Kamworor finished second in the London Marathon, aiming for a third title after winning in 2017 and 2019.
In their absence, Albert Korir and Cheserek, who will be making his marathon debut, will represent Kenya in the men's race.
Organizers also revealed that the Ethiopian quartet of Mosinet Geremew, Gotytom Gebreslase, Yalemzerf Yehualaw, and Israel's Lonah Chemtai Salpeter had withdrawn.
Albert Korir and Edward Cheserek will go against Ethiopian duo Tamirat Tola and world bronze medalist Amedework Walelegn.
