Kiptoo, Kioko target to recapture honours at Prisons Cross Country

Timothy Kiptoo and Eunice Kioko will be hoping to defend their senior men’s and women titles during the Kenya Prisons Cross Country championships at Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens on Saturday.

The meeting is part of the ongoing institutional competitions to select teams for the national cross country championships slated for February 15 at Ngong Racecourse.

Kenya Police and Kenya Defence Forces have already held their championships while counties are also expected to pick their teams on Saturday.

The national championships will select the team for the Africa Cross Country Championships set for March 16 in Kampala, Uganda.

Things look even in the women’s 8km race where Kioko will face equally upcoming athletes such as Jane Mwikali, Jane Murage, Susan Lekapana and Nancy Kimaiyo.

“They have been building up and are at their peak. We shall have a close race in this category,” said Prisons head coach Gideon Chirchir.

But it will not be a smooth ride for Kiptoo who faces a strong challenge in the in the men’s 12km event.

The Africa 5,000m bronze medallist Kiptoo, was the Team Kenya captain for the 2013 World Cross Country Championships Poland, and should be counting on his experience as he eyes his third straight victory.

Kiptoo will face, among others, Fredrick Musyoki, who was second last year. Musyoki is in good form, having won the KCB/AK Cross Country Series in Kapsokwony and Eldoret. 

Kiptoo won the 2012 KCB/AK Cross Country Series jackpot and set new Prisons 5,000m record last year of 13.32.1 while Musyoki won the 1,500m gold at the 2007 World Youth Championships in Ostrava and finished fourth at World Cross junior in 2008.

“We are all set and hope to select a strong squad that will not only defend the team title but also challenge for individual honours,” said Chirchir.

“Both Kiptoo and Musyoki are good. However, Musyoki is in a devastating form and could to turn the tables on Kiptoo. But again, there are other athletes in the field who are equally awesome.” Kiptoo was second during the national trials for World Cross in Poland.

Reigning World Half Marathon bronze medallist John Mwangangi and Silas Kiplagat, who wants to defend his Commonwealth Games 1,500m title this year are also in the run.

Kiplagat hopes to atone for his poor show at 2012 Olyimpics and 2013 Moscow Worlds with victory at the Commonwealth Games on July 23 to August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland.