Elite field for cross-country meeting in Machakos

Cleophas Ngetich cruises to victory in the senior men 10km race during the third leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country meet in Nyahururu on November 28, 2015. PHOTO | DAVID MACHARIA |

What you need to know:

  • Nge’tich will lead participants in senior men’s 10km race which also features Peter Wambua, Fredrick Musyoki, Ephrahim Mwangi, Dominic Kiptarus and Emmanuel Kipsang.
  • Ng’etich boasts two wins in the series, while Kiptarus and Kipsang each have won once in the first four meetings.

Seasoned athletes will compete in the Athletics Kenya Cross Country series in Machakos on Saturday.

Series leaders Cleophas Ng’etich and World Youth 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist Sandra Chebet, Africa Games 10,000m champion Alice Aprot, experienced road runners Nancy Nzisa and Eunice Kioko, will be looking to end the year on a high in today’s meet.

Nge’tich will lead participants in senior men’s 10km race which also features Peter Wambua, Fredrick Musyoki, Ephrahim Mwangi, Dominic Kiptarus and Emmanuel Kipsang.

Ng’etich boasts two wins in the series, while Kiptarus and Kipsang each have won once in the first four meetings.

HUGE FILED

About 500 athletes are expected for today’s meet, the fifth in the six-meet series which will build up to the national cross-country championships in Nairobi.

The national championships will see athletes compete for tickets to the Africa Cross Country Championships set for Cameroon in March next year.
The Mount Elgon and Sotik meetings will be held on January 2 and 9 respectively.

At the end of the series, athletes who shall have collected the highest points will be presented with the Jackpot Trophy.

Aprot, who also won a bronze medal in the last year’s Africa Cross Country Championships in Kololo, Uganda, has set her eyes on the continental championship.

However, Aprot, the Africa Games 5,000m bronze medallist, should expect a tough 8km senior women’s race with home runners Nzisa and Kioko in the mix.

“I’m seeking to improve my speed and form ahead of the trials for Africa Cross Country Championships. I hope I get the chance because I want to improve on my third place from last year,” Aprot said in Eldoret.

Alfred Ngeno, Cyrus Loikong, Andrew Lorot and Peter Kipserem each have victories from Nairobi, Kangaru, Nyahururu and Iten respectively and are expected to compete in junior men’s 8km category.

Chebet favourite for junior women’s 6km race after winning Nairobi and Iten. She will take on, among others, her sister Emily Chebet and Cecilia Maria who won the meeting in Kangaru.