Kamworor sounds loud warning shot ahead of nationals
What you need to know:
- World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor has sounded a warning shot to his opponents ahead of his title defence at the National Cross Country Championships set for Saturday at Uhuru Gardens.
- Kamworor, who is also the World Half Marathon champion, has been out of action since the Rio Olympic Games in August, last year, where he finished a distant 11th in the 10,000 metres final.
- The 2013 World 10,000m silver medallist on Monday disclosed that after returning from Rio, he was hit by a bout of pneumonia which locked him out of competition for two months.
World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor has sounded a warning shot to his opponents ahead of his title defence at the National Cross Country Championships set for Saturday at Uhuru Gardens.
Kamworor, who is also the World Half Marathon champion, has been out of action since the Rio Olympic Games in August, last year, where he finished a distant 11th in the 10,000 metres final.
The 2013 World 10,000m silver medallist on Monday disclosed that after returning from Rio, he was hit by a bout of pneumonia which locked him out of competition for two months.
Kamworor encountered another misfortune when he was involved in a road accident in October in Fluorspar area in Elgeyo Marakwet where he dislocated his left arm.
That saw Kamworor withdraw from the National Police Service Cross Country Championships held on January 21 where he was expected to defend his title and the Discovery Cross Country race on January 29 in Eldoret.
WAS INVOLVED IN ROAD ACCIDENT
“I had just returned to training after an illness when the accident occurred and I had to keep off training for another two months,” Kamworor, who resumed training in December, said on Monday.’
“I saw it wise to stay away from competitions so as to give myself ample time to recovery and bring my body back to shape,” said Kamworor. “I feel much better now and I should defend my national cross title first before the worlds.”
It’s at Saturday’s nationals where Team Kenya for the World Cross Country Championships planned for March 26 in Kampala will be selected.
Kamworor joined the league of Kenya’s greats John Ngugi and Paul Tergat when he won the 2015 World Cross Country in Guiyang, China.
Kamworor, who is currently training in Kaptagat, hinted that he won’t be doing road races since he wants to consolidate his energies for the London World Championships due August.
Eyeing Mo Farah’s 10,00m title.
“My dream is to win that coveted 10,000m title from Mo Farah and especially at his home turf…there is no love lost between him and Kenyans,” said Kamworor. “What I want to do is put behind the Rio Olympic experience and forge a new front.”
With his main rival and friend Bedan Karoki out of the equation, Kamworor will face fellow policeman Augustine Choge, who cashed in on his absence to win the Police Cross Country Championship.
Choge is fresh from finishing third at Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon, United Arab Emirates on Friday in personal best 59:26.
Kamworor will also face Kenya Defence Forces champion Emmanuel Kipsang, the 2013 World Cross Country champion Josphat Korir, who won in South Rift and upcoming Katui Muia, the Kenya Prisons Cross champion.
