Kenyans will still dominate world cross-country

The World Cross-Country Championships are finally here and once again the focus is on Kenyan distance runners.

The team left for Guiyang, China on Tuesday ahead of the Saturday event. Right now though, the million dollar question is whether Kenyans can continue dominating the global cross-country scene.

Yes!

I believe they have done it before and we can still count on them this time round not only to dominate but also to make a repeat performance of the 2010 feat when they swept all the eight medals on offer in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

In 2013, Kenya won seven out of eight gold medals, losing the women’s 6km junior race and last year on the Africa front in Uganda, they won all the medals.

Despite the wrangling at the federation level, the training at Kigari Teachers Training College has run smoothly under coach David Letting and I believe the athletes have what takes to rule the world once again.

I have been following the updates from their training base in Kigari and I am happy with the psyche being displayed by the athletes.

TALKING MEDALS

Team captain Godfrey Kamworor, especially, seems to be leading by example and he is currently talking medals.

And I believe him because he has been there and done that.

Kamworor clinched the world junior title in 2011 in Punta Umbra, Spain before switching to the senior category a year later.

He is now accomplished marathoner and a two-time third finisher at Berlin. Kamworor believes they have what it takes to sweep the board, revealing that all they need to manage is the pressure.

National cross-country champion Bedan Karoki is another athlete to watch and he is relishing the challenge of making his debut at the event.

The team has also suffered major blows with the withdrawal of injured Commonwealth 1,500m champion Faith Chepngetich and Alice Aprot.

Despite that, Letting still believes the team will rise up to the occasion. With the experience of world champion Emily Chebet, Letting believes the Kenyan girls are in good hands.

Chebet is expected to receive back up from Irene Cheptai, Agnes Tirop, Margaret Kipkemboi, Stacy Ndiwa and assistant captain Janet Kisa.

Kamworor also leads a formidable team featuring Leonard Barsoton, Bedan Karoki, Joseph Kitum, Phillip Langat and Moses Letoyie Mukono. Junior men’s team has upcoming runners like Rodgers Chumo, Dominic Kiptarus, Moses Koech, Geoffrey Korir, John Langat and Alfred Ngeno.

The junior women’s side comprises Rosefline Chepngetich, Joyline Cherotich, Daisy Jepkemei, Gladys Kipkoech, Winnie Koima and Winfred Mbithe.

Favourites Kenya must be wary of Uganda and Ethiopia. Ethiopia need to be checked closely as they harbour the ambition of being East Africa leaders in every athletics event.