World class experience for Cape Town

Competing in the Africa Cross Country Championships after grabbing the top medals at the World Cross Country Championships is, in football parallel, akin to playing in the Africa Cup of Nations after winning the Fifa World Cup.

Well, that’s what it would seem for Emily Chebet and Faith Chepng’etich.

Chebet became only the third Kenyan woman to claim senior women’s title after Hellen Chepng’eno (1994) and Florence Kiplagat (2009) when she strutted to victory at the 2010 Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

Last year, Chepng’etich bagged the junior title in the world competition that was held in Punta Umbria, Spain. However, Chebet and Chepngetich reckon that charity begins at home, and that winning the Africa Country Championships on March 18 in Cape Town will have enhanced their status in cross country running.

The two are prominent figures in the Kenyan team that has set up camp at the Watakatifu Wote Catholic Centre on the outskirts on Ngong town.

Thursday was another busy day for the squad with a pre-dawn run followed by a 10am fartlet (speed intervals) at the dusty Kimuko outside Ngong town.

Heart is still unsettled

Chebet, who finished fifth during the 2003 World Cross Country Championships in Switzerland, said that she wants to finish off the work in Cape Town and focus on securing a place in Kenya’s 10,000 metres team for the London Olympic Games.

“I thank God that he handed me the world title first, but my heart is still unsettled without the Africa title among my jewels,” Chebet said. “For sure I have matured since then and I am in better shape than when I surprised many to win the world title.”

Chebet, 24, exuded confidence that his team of Esther Chemtai, Joyce Chepkurui, who won at the national trials, and assistant captain Margaret Wangare will sweep the podium just like last year. Wangare likened her team to a well oiled and polished rifle that is ready to fight.

After winning the world junior title, Chepng’etich, who won the national trials, just can wait to vanquish her Ethiopians rivals again for the African title. “You can only be a real champion when you win both home and away and that is what I am aiming at.

“The Ethiopians know what we are capable of doing and they should be ready for a more lethal dose than the one I gave them in Spain,” said a confident Chepng’etich.

The 18-year-old, who is also looking forward to defend her 1,500m World Junior title later this year in Barcelona, she has a strong back-up from Agnes Jebet, Alice Aprot and Nancy Chepkwemoi. “The event will precisely refine me for the Barcelona battle.”

The 2011 World Cross Country Championships’ senior men’s 12km bronze medallist, Vincent Chepkok, advised his colleagues not to focus on who they are going to meet but how well they will prepare.

Prize money

“The pressure will be on us to prove that we can once again sweep all the podium places. We can make it but only if we focus on sharpening every aspect of the game,” said Chepkok, who won the 5,000m race at last year’s Lussanne leg of the Samsung Diamond League.

He said Africa should device ways of making the event popular by introducing prize money for the winners.

“Making the World Cross Country Championships a biennial event should be a blessing to Africa as it gives them an opportunity to popularise athletics on the continent,” Chepkok explained. “They should in future come with cash rewards to attract quality just like events in Europe.”