NAIROBI - Defending champion Lawrence Cherono and Edna Kiplagat of Kenya will return to the Boston Marathon course on April 20 keen to wrest the title and boost their hopes of making the Kenya team to the Tokyo Olympics.

With Kenyan selectors penciling Tokyo, Boston and London marathon as the gauge to test athletes' fitness, the Kenyan duo, who have expressed interest to make the team to 2020 Tokyo Games, will do everything to win the titles.

Ethiopia's women champion Worknesh Degefa will also return to the Boston course and so will Des Linden and Yuki Kawauchi, who won the rain-soaked 2018 editions.

Kiplagat, 38, is not about to see her juggernaut pull in on her final stop in marathon having won Boston title last in 2017.

Another Kenyan and former champion in Boston is Geoffrey Kirui and the women's winner in 2015 Caroline Rotich.

Cherono, the winner of the 2019 Boston Marathon by two-seconds over two-time champion Lelisa Desisa will seek to settle any doubts about his preparedness and credential in big city marathon.

"I am happy to return to the Boston Marathon to defend my title. Boston will have a special place in my memories forever," said Cherono on Wednesday.

"I loved every mile of this race and fought until the end to achieve the first place and become part of the elite family to have won the most prestigious race of the world. I look forward to being at the start line of the 2020 edition."

Desiree Linden will be running 51 days after the US Olympic marathon trial in Atlanta.

"Running the Boston Marathon seven weeks after the US Olympic Trials is a plan that has been in the works for roughly a year," Linden said.

"I crossed the finish line in 2019 and knew if my body was capable, I wanted to return to Boston in 2020. My coach, Walt Drenth, and I had some long conversations on doing the double, how we would tailor the training, and if it was reasonable to expect to run well in both races. We were both excited about the challenge."

Linden will run both the 2020 US Olympic Trials Marathon on February 29 and the Boston Marathon on April 20, while two-time champion Desisa returns as reigning World Athletics Marathon Champion.

"We are excited to welcome back our accomplished champions," said race director Barbara Goose.

"Their return is a testimony to the tradition and legacy that is the Boston Marathon. These champions are not just racing each other, they are chasing history.