National Cross Country champion Maurine Chebor and African Under-18 3,000m champion Cynthia Chepkirui will lead Kenya’s campaign this weekend at the World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meetings in Seville, Spain, and Cardiff, Wales.
Chebor, fresh from storming to the national title on October 25 at the Eldoret Sports Club, will line up in Seville, where she faces a strong field featuring Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain.
The 21-year-old clocked 34:16 to clinch the national crown, edging Brenda Jepchumba (34:19) and Glorious Jepkirui (34:26), improving on her runner-up finish from February’s nationals, where she clocked 34:33 behind Brillian Kipkoech (34:30).
Chebor views the Seville race as a vital build-up ahead of the World Cross Country Championships scheduled for January 10 in Tallahassee, Florida.
“My coach will tell me which area to sharpen in training,” said Chebor.
“I feel inspired to go to Florida to run with the likes of Beatrice.”
She will be part of a formidable Kenyan women’s line-up for Florida that includes defending champion Beatrice Chebet, world 10km record holder Agnes Ng’etich, Brenda Chepchumba, Glorious Jepkirui, Lilian Kasait, and Rebecca Mwangi (reserve).
Away from cross country, Chebor has impressed on the roads this year, winning the Nijmegen 5K in 15:01 in April and finishing third at the Tokyo 5K in 14:40, behind compatriot Caroline Nyaga (14:19) and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti (14:32).
Her biggest rival in Seville will be Yavi, who claimed silver at the World Championships in Tokyo with a time of 8:56.46.
Also in contention are compatriot Celestine Jepkorir, Kazakhstan’s Daisy Jepkemei (last year’s Seville runner-up), Portugal’s Mariana Machado, and Norway’s Kristin Eikrem.
Meanwhile, in Cardiff, 17-year-old Cynthia Chepkirui will make her first appearance outside Africa, leading Kenya’s junior team. The African U18 3,000m champion stormed to the national U20 title in 20:38, ahead of Mirriam Kibet (20:49) and Lonah Cherono (21:00).
Chepkirui will also represent Kenya in Florida alongside Mirriam Chemutai, Lonah Cherono, Mercy Chepng’eno, Caren Chepng’eno, Mercy Chelimo, and Anastasia Cheptoo (reserve).
Joining her in Cardiff is Sheila Jebet, last year’s runner-up, who has been in excellent form — finishing second (21:19) at the International La Mandria Meeting in Italy and winning the Cross Cup de Hannut in Belgium in 31:01.
With both Chebor and Chepkirui leading Kenya’s senior and junior charges, the nation will be eyeing podium finishes on both fronts this weekend.
by TEDDY MULEI
