Kipyegon, Kwemoi highlight Discovery Cross Country

Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon and Commonwealth Games 10,000m bronze medallist Rodgers Kwemoi will highlight the 30th edition of the Discovery Kenya Cross Country championships slated for Eldoret Sports Club on Sunday.

According to race organiser coach David Letting, the preparations for the event are complete as they expect a high turnout of athletes in the four categories; 6km junior men, 8km junior men and 10km senior men and women.

Letting explained that the children’s fun races which are synonymous with the event will not take place this year as a precaution to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Kipyegon will be using the race as she begins her build up towards her Olympic title defence, with barely six months to the start of the Games in Tokyo, Japan.

“We expect many athletes to compete on Sunday since this will be the first race since the breakout of Covid-19. So far we have received confirmation from Faith (Kipyegon) who will compete in 10km as she prepares for the Olympics. We also expect Rodgers (Kwemoi) as well as Rhonex (Kipruto) among others,” said Letting.

Organisers of the annual event have also raised the prize money with the winners of the 10km senior men and women races will now bag Sh. 25,000 up from the previous sh20,000 while the winners of the junior races (8km boys and 6km girls) will pocket Sh15,000 from sh10,000.

Letting has however urged athletes to be ready for a tough and challenging course on Sunday.

“As always we will have a loop of 2km where we have erected some obstacles and so our athletes should be ready for a real test similar to the national championships in 2019,” he said.