NYAHURURU, Kenya, January 19- In form All Africa Games 10,000m silver medallists Bedan Karoki will be the favourite in the senior men 12km race at Saturday’s the Nyandarua County Cross Country Championships.
The event to be hosted at the Nyandarua Institute of Science and Technology grounds will be headlined by the Japan based athlete who completed a crushing long race victory at the last leg of the KCB/Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series meet in Kisii three weeks ago.
Karoki, who runs for SB Food Company corporate team will be among a slew of Japan based top runners who are currently in the region for their end of season break with most expected to grace the event.
The 6km junior women run will feature African Cross Country bronze medallist and World Youth 3000m silver winner Elizabeth Wanjiru as the star attraction.
Nyandarua AK sub- branch chairman Peter Mathu said the race will be used to test the new venue after it was switched from the traditional Kwa-Nguku location following rows with their Laikipia counterparts over usage of the grounds.
The dispute centred on the money collected from the event with both sub-branches staking claim to the collection.
In the other categories, competition is expected to be between athletes from local clubs with some runners who failed to make the cut at last weekend’s Kenya Police XC Championships getting the chance to gain tickets at the race.
Laikipia meanwhile, will hold their district selection event at Karandi trading centre on Friday, according to the sub branch chairman Robert Kioni.