Buoyant Kenyans go for the kill in Kampala
What you need to know:
- I don’t fear Uganda’s Kiprotich or anyone, says defending champ Kamworor
IN KAMPALA, UGANDA
Geoffrey Kamworor on Saturday crossed the finish line, arms raised, in a mock victory as he warmed up for Sunday’s 42nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
But the defending champion is all too aware of the stiff competition expected when athletes from all over the world converge on the Kololo Independence Grounds for the biennial championships.
Uganda are hosting the championships for the first time and have drawn a record 557 athletes who will also compete in the newly-introduced mixed relays. Kamworor is optimistic he will repeat what he did in Guiyang, China, two years ago when he broke away from “sparring partner” Bedan Karoki to breast the tape in spectacular fashion.
Nation Sport caught up with him on a morning run in Kampala on Saturday as the champ assessed the course which he described as “perfect.”
“I have seen the course which is very good, including the obstacles which I thought would bring problems. It’s not that bad. I want to run a good race and reclaim my title though I know the competition will be stiff,” said Kamworor.
Asked whether he fears his training mate and former World and Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich, Kamworor said he will do his best as he has the experience.
“I don’t fear Kiprotich. In fact, I respect him so much. But I’m happy we are meeting in a competition. I have the experience of winning and I will say may the best win,” said a modest Kamworor.
Richard Kimunyan, who is in the junior team, was elated after his mother came along with other fans from Kenya by bus in the #IAAFKampalaBusCampaign rally to cheer him up on his first global cross country mission.
WON'T LET HER DOWN
“This is my first cross country championships and when my mother heard that I’m in the Kenya team, she joined other fans that came by road to come and watch me run. I will not want to let her down and I will do my best,” said Kimunyan.
In the mixed relays, world 1,500 metres champion Asbel Kiprop will lead the Kenyan team. He says that he is excited to be the pioneer.
“I’m so excited to be in this new category and I know we will do our best so that we take home all the medals available,” said Kiprop.
Beatrice Chepkoech, who is also in the relay team, said that she is optimistic they will do well today when they start the race at Kololo Independence Grounds.
“We have done good training and when we come here, its pure team work for us to win medals. We want our national anthem to be played on all the titles available,” said Chepkoech.
Kiprop said he will be using the race as a build up for the World Relays Championships that will be held in Bahamas in May.
“Team Kenya” head coach Juma Ndiwa said they had prepared well while in the training camp and what now remains is to win the medals.
“Our athletes have done enough training and I know they are going to run well and take all the medals available. We know the teams are strong but we did a lot of training to make sure we get good results,” said Ndiwa.
Team Kenya will not have it easy from their counterparts who changed citizenship who includes Bahrain’s Olympic steeplechase champion Ruth Chebet and Eunice Chumba.
USA will field a galaxy of former Kenyans including Samuel Chelanga, Leonard Korir, Shadrack Kipchirchir and Paul Chelimo in what has come to be popularly referred to as “Kenya B’.
PROGRAM
13:30 Opening Ceremony
14:00 Mixed Relay
14:30 Under 20 Women
1500 Medal Ceremony Mixed Relay
1510 under 20 Men
1540 Medal ceremony under 20 Women
1555 Senior Women
1640 Medal Ceremony under 20 Men
1655 Senior Men
1730 Medal Ceremony Senior Women
1745 Medal Ceremony Senior Men
1800 Mass Race