NAIROBI, Kenya, February 16- Six athletes are in the running for the KCB Cross Country Series jackpot heading into Saturday’s national showpiece at Uhuru Gardens.
Charles Kibet and John Chepkwony are the favourites in the senior men’s category while Nicholas Togon is favourite for a windfall in the junior men.
Faith Chepngetich, Alice Aprot and Naomi Chepngeno are battling out in the junior girls’ category. The senior women’s has no contender since none have failed to register the necessary points.
Over 300 athletes are expected to fight for national honours and a place in both the IAAF World and African Cross Country teams.
“We will select 24 runners for the World Cross Country and 12 for the African event in Cape Town,” said Athletics Kenya (AK) secretary general David Okeyo.
The World Cross Country will take place on March 20 in Punta Umbria, Spain while the African event is slated for March 6.
Both squads will hold separate training camps with the world team heading to their traditional Kigari base while a location for the African side will be known in due course.
“We decided to separate both teams because both we’ll be undergoing different programmes. The team that will go to South Africa have less time to prepare hence they will undergo a much more intensive programme. We didn’t want to mix the two,” said Okeyo.
The athletes will be battling for a total of Sh560,000 in prize money on Saturday morning.
Athletes from the Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Emirates are expected to grace the event.
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