Conseslus Kipruto, Peris Jepchirchir top guns in Central Rift cross country

Olympic 3,000 metres steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto and World Half Marathon champion Peris Jepchirchir are expected to be the main attractions at the Central Rift Cross Country Championships at the Mosoriot Teachers Training College in Nandi County on Saturday.

Kipruto, who is fresh from winning at the Antrim Cross Country meeting in Northern Ireland, is up against the 2013 Paris Marathon champion Peter Kimeli Some and experienced distance runner Emmanuel Bor.

Jepchirchir will also use the race to prepare for the rich Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon on February 10 in the United Arab Emirates. 

Jepchirchir will brush shoulders with Violet Chepchumba and Gladys Koech, among others, in the Central Rift championship which will select a team for the national championships in Nairobi on February 18.

Central Rift Athletics Kenya secretary Kennedy Tanui said fans should be ready for “explosive races” as they select their team for the nationals.

Richard Kimunyan, who won the men’s Under-20 race at last weekend’s Discovery Cross Country Championships in Eldoret on Sunday, hopes for a double at Central Rift.

Some explosive moments are also expected in South Rift and Southern Regions.

The 2013 World Cross Country senior men’s champion Japheth Korir tops the card at South Rift championship at Olootepes Picnic Site in Kajiado County while the 2012 Africa Cross champion John Mwangangi highlights the Southern at Nguutani Secondary School, Mwingi.

Korir declared he is comeback with an emphatic victory in men’s 10km race during the second round of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series in Kilgoris last November.

Korir is yet to find his footing since winning the men’s 12km title at the 2013 World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland owing to injuries.

Korir was given a wild card to Team Kenya to try defend his title at the 2015 World Cross in Beijing but failed to hit form in training forcing the technical bench to leave him out.

Africa Cross Country junior champion Miriam Cherop will highlight women’s World Under-20 race that has World Under-20 5,000m silver medallist Emmaculate Chepkirui and Betty Chepkemoi.

World 5,000m silver medallist Caleb Mwangangi and Patrick Mwaka will also grace Southern event where Winfred Nzisa, Jane Mwikali and Agnes Katunge will field in women’s race.

FAITH WILDCARD

Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Chepng’etich, who was expected for senior women’s race in South Rift, has pulled out out. “I just want to take a rest and prepare for the nationals,” said Chepng’etich, the 2015 national champion, who should get a wild card entry.

However, Chepng’etich’s sister Beatrice Mutai, who has represented Kenya several times, will be the person to beat in senior women’s race.