We are ready for war!

The decision by Ethiopia, Uganda and Eritrea to send their teams to Punta Umbria a day earlier than expected has been taken by Kenyan officials as a declaration of war ahead of Sunday’s World Cross Country Championship.

Head coach David Leting had a hard time securing a training ground and was forced to sneak into the running circuit to get exclusive training. But head of delegation Joseph Kinyua cautioned his team that the plot their rivals were hatching was no longer a secret.

“This is war. They were never this serious before,” he said. “But after seeing what we did in Poland last year, I believe they had no choice but to equal us at our game.

“It is a challenge we are relishing and, on Sunday, I believe we will emerge victorious.”

Of course Kenya has had its bad day at work. In Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2008, only Leonard Komon won silver in the 12km senior men. There was acrimony in the Kenya camp.

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