Kenyans ready to sweep African cross country titles

What you need to know:

  • The women’s line up is star-studded featuring Stacy Ndiwa, Sandra Chebet, Celiphine Chespol, Margaret Chelimo, Perin Nengampi and Rosemary Njeri.
  • The juniors are talented and Algeria will no doubt provide a bigger platform for them to grow.

The Kenyan squad is in Algeria for this weekend’s Africa Cross Country Championships in Chlef.

And yes, the boys and girls are well prepared after a month’s training at the traditional Kigari Teachers Training College base in Embu.

We may not have our usual best in the line-up, but as far as I am concerned, and having monitored their training closely, there is actually no cause for alarm.

Owing to the busy calendar we are having especially in the next three months, we have had no choice but to divide our best runners in various events.

For example, the world champion Geoffrey Kamworor will be flying Kenya’s flag in the World Half Marathon Championships in Spain next weekend, and the same applies to Pauline Kaveke and Fancy Chemutai in the women’s race.

In their absence, Kenya has been left with the option of Alfred Barkach to lead the way in the senior men’s race where he will receive backing from Michael Ndirangu, Emmanuel Bor, John Chepkwony, Joseph Bett and Julius Kogo.

The women’s line up is star-studded featuring Stacy Ndiwa, Sandra Chebet, Celiphine Chespol, Margaret Chelimo, Perin Nengampi and Rosemary Njeri.

As usual, juniors are very unpredictable and Kenya will be counting on Stanley Waithaka, Ronex Kipruto, Nicholas Kipkorir, Peter Lagat, Edward Zakayo and Edwin Kiplagat Bett in the boys’ cadre with Miriam Cherop, Roselida Jepketer, Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Chebet, Hellen Ekalalea and Edna Chebitok seeking glory in the girls’ category.

The juniors are talented and Algeria will no doubt provide a bigger platform for them to grow.

From where I sit, I am convinced we are going to sweep the board if the kind of training they have been undergoing in Kigari is anything to go by.
Besides, Kenyans are the rulers of Africa cross country running and our neighbours, and especially Ethiopia and Uganda, will this time round have to work extra hard to catch up.

Good performance will set pace for Kenyans to shine at the World Half Marathon Championships and next month’s Commonwealth Games.

For now, I can only wish them the best of luck and urge them to go for each and every medal. I can’t wait to receive them at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport next week.

All the best boys and girls!

Korir, Athletics Kenya’s Nairobi branch chairman, is also head of Kenya’s team to the 2018 Commonwealth Games: [email protected]