Kimetto bullish as Team Kenya jet out for Africa Cross Country Championships
Coach John Kimetto believes that despite the weather challenge in Chlef, Algeria, Team Kenya will post impressive performances in the African Cross Country Championships this weekend.
A strong squad of 30 athletes jets out tonight for Algeria to represent the country in the competition and Kimetto is bullish, maintaining that the goal is to sweep all the medals on offer.
Speaking to Citizen Digital, Kimetto said that they had to change the timings of their training so as to fit into the weather conditions in Chlef, which keep fluctuating but is expected to be moderately low, below 15 ° Celsius on Saturday.
“The team is well prepared now. At first, we used to train at 1 pm but when we realised the weather change we also changed our training time. We have been training from 4 am in the morning and 5 pm in the evening,” he averred adding: “We are ready to clinch the medals. I am confident on that.”
The squad of 30 athletes plus officials will jet out at 10.45pm aboard an Emirates flight to Dubai from where they’ll connect to the Algerian city.
According to the officials, the team jets out early in order to give the athletes adequate time to rest and acclimatize before taking on the track.
Among the names in the squad are Sandra Felis Chebet, Margaret Chelimo, Celiphine Chespol, Perin Nenkampi and Rosemary Njeri – who will carry the national flag in women’s 10km race.
In the senior men’s 10km, Macharia Ndirangu, Emmanuel Bor, John Chepkwony, Josephat Bett and Julius Kogo – shoulder the aspirations of the country.
In the junior women’s 6km, Miriam Cherop from Bomet County who trains under John Kimetto, will have a chance of defending her title.
Roselinda Jepketer, Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Jebet, Hellen Ekalale and Edna Jebitok, the World Under-18 bronze medalist, are other members of the squad.
World Under-18 3,000m bronze medalist Stanley Waithaka, World under-18 3,000m silver medallist Edward Zakayo, Ronex Kipruto, Peter Lagat, Nicholas Kipkorir and Edwin Kiplagat Bett will be gunning for continental titles in men’s 8km junior race.
At the Africa Cross-country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon in 2016, Kenya swept the podium in senior and junior women races.
Senior Men 10km
Alfred Barkach
Macharia Ndirangu
Emmanuel Bor
John Chepkwony
Joseph Bett
Julius Kogo
Senior Women 10km
Stacy Ndiwa
Sandra Chebet
Celphine Chepsol
Margaret Chelimo
Perin Nenkampi
Rosemary Njeri
Junior Men 8km
Stanley Waithaka
Ronex Kipruto
Nicholas Kipkorir
Peter Lagat
Edward Zakayo
Edwin Kiplagat Bett
Junior Women 6km
Miriam Cherop
Roselida Jepketer
Beatrice Chebet
Agnes Jebet
Helen Ekalale
Edna Jebitok
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