Mbithe, Tanki out to conquer Mount Elgon

What you need to know:

  • Kimitei will team up with Joash Kiplimo and Boaz Kiprugut in the Kenya Prisons team. Kiprugut will take part in the men’s under-20 race.
  • Komon, who holds the world record for the 10km road race, won silver in the junior race at the 2006 World Cross Country and another silver as a senior in 2008.

Bomet’s Julius Tanki and Winfred Mbithe from Kenya Police will be going for a double at the third leg of the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series in Kapsokwony, Mount Elgon on Saturday.

The trail-blazing Tanki and Mbithe swept to victories in the men’s and women’s 10km race during the first leg of the series in Machakos on November 17, but missed the second leg in Ol Kalou.

Silibwet Athletics Club coach John Kimetto disclosed that his athletes are ready for the showdown in Kapsokwony.

“I am glad Mbithe has joined his stable and I hope she benefits,” said Kimetto.

Emmaculate Anyango, who won the women’s under-20 6km race in Machakos, will also be seeking a double with fellow Silibwet teammate Desma Chepkoech, who finished third in Machakos out to turn the tables on her.

In the absence of world under-20 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Leonard Bett, who won the men’s under-20 8km race in Machakos, his Silibwet teammate Gilbert Mutai is a strong prospect to claim the junior title.

“The athletes are ready and we hope for the best though we expect strong all round challenge this being the penultimate leg is the series,” said Kimetto.

Tanki should brace for a challenge from 2016 Africa 10,000m champion Wilfred Kimitei, who was in a bad fall that led to him missing out on the top 10 in Ol Kalou, and Team Kenya captain for the 2017 World Cross Country Championships in Kampala Leonard Komon.

Kimitei will team up with Joash Kiplimo and Boaz Kiprugut in the Kenya Prisons team. Kiprugut will take part in the men’s under-20 race.

Komon, who holds the world record for the 10km road race, won silver in the junior race at the 2006 World Cross Country and another silver as a senior in 2008.

Mbithe, who is the world cross country mixed relay gold medallist, should prepare for a breath taking showdown with world cross country silver medallist Alice Aprot, who is going for nothing short of victory after playing second fiddle in Ol Kalou.

Aprot, the 2016 Africa Cross Country champion, finished 11th in her season opener in Wareng three weeks ago before losing to world and Commonwealth 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri in Ol Kalou on December 1. The Wareng Cross Country in Eldoret is not part of the AK Series that includes four events.

The series kicked off in Machakos before proceeding to the chilly terrains of Ol Kalou. Mount Elgon hosts the third leg with Kisii wrapping up this season’s action in January.

Kisii will be followed by institutional and inter-regional championships and they will act as build up to the National Cross Country Championships slated for February 23 at Eldoret Sports Club.

Team Kenya for the World Cross Country Championships set for March 30 in Aarhus, Denmark will be picked at the Eldoret meet.