By Mutwiri MutuotaAthletics enthusiasts are mulling over as Armed Forces and Kenya Police hold their Inter Divisional Cross Country Championships this Saturday.
With the KCB/AK National Cross Country Series seven meetings all sewn up, institutional events are on cue as the country seeks its team for March 28 World Cross in Bydgoszcz, Poland.
At Kahawa Garrison, off Nairobi’s Thika Road, soldiers will lay down their arms to take on the tough cross country course as Armed Forces hold their selection event for the February 20 National Trials for Bydgoszcz.
Last year, Lineth Chepkurui and Vincent Chepkok won the senior women 8km and men 12km races in dominant displays where five-time World Cross champion, Paul Tergat returned to the course for the first time in almost a decade.
This time around, focus will on former World Junior 5,000m silver medalist, Joseph Ebuya who turned the athletics order upside down with victory over six-time senior World Cross champion, Kenenisa Bekele at the BUPA Great Edinburgh run.
Second defeat
It was only Bekele’s second career defeat at a cross-country course in senior competition following his failure to finish at Mombasa 2007 World Cross.
With Ebuya and Chepkok, who won the 5,000m National Trials for Berlin World Championships where the former came third in the men 12km senior field, the race promises to be a cracker.
Chepkurui has ruled over the women’s senior event twice in a row where Peninah Arusei and veteran Sally Barsosio have been main challengers.
Olympic 1,500m champion, Nancy Jebet Lagat will also feature but it is difficult to see who can topple the defending champion who was fourth at last year’s Amman World Cross.
Ngong racecourse
Over to the Ngong Racecourse, the traditional venue for the national event that will not be used this year, Kenya Police, arguably the force with the most potent runners are laying out what promises to be a keenly contested event.
Last year, civilian Joel Kimurer came in to seek recruitment to the force and caused an upset when he arrested a quality field for the men’s 12km title. Now firmly established in the force, Kimurer has to contend with accomplished road racer, Sammy Kitwara, World Championships steeplechase silver medalist, Richard Mateelong and Berlin 10,000m runner, Bernard Kipyego among others. World 10,000m bronze winner, Moses Masai is also in the mix.
World women 5,000m champion, Vivian Cheruiyot, won the women’s senior 8km at a canter and will be a star attraction in the event.
However, World 10,000m champion, Linet Masai, who is smarting from being denied a half marathon debut in Qatar, 5,000m World silver medalist, Sylvia Kibet and Africa 10,000m bronze winner, Grace Momanyi will be out to stop Cheruiyot in what promises to be a titanic race.
So, if you are torn as to where to be on Saturday, you are probably not alone.
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