More expected in camp as Africa XC training begin

Coach John Kimetto says the full Team Kenya for the Africa Cross Country Championships is expected in camp by end of Wednesday.

Kimetto led 20 athletes for the first session in the morning at the Kigali Teachers Training College in Embu but 10 more will join the squad before training begins in earnest.

Drills will be customised to prepare athletes for the harsh weather conditions experienced in Chelf, Algeria which is 472ft (144m) above sea level with decimal degrees going as high as 36.2° and as low as 1.3°.

“We did a morning run of about 40 minutes in the morning and now we are preparing for the second session that will be around mid day. It is important that they train at that time because the weather in Algeria is harsher than they are used to.

“We will be doing a minimum of two sessions daily with the first three weeks dedicated to loading. Later we can concentrate on speed and then finish with recovery,” Kimetto told Citizen Digital.

The official added that athletes who made the team but choose to concentrate on the April Commonwealth Games in Australia will be replaced by the next athlete who participated at the National Cross Country Championships.

“We wanted the athletes who booked tickets to Gold Coast to make their own independent decision on how they want to handle both events. Most of those who made it like Sandrafelis  Chebet confirmed that she will arrive today,” Kimetto said.

Some of the athletes that are being expected in camp include National Cross Country champion Stacy Ndiwa, World U-18, 2000m steeplechase champion Celliphine Chepteek Chespol who will be eyeing a maiden African title.

Chespol was the only Kenyan podium finisher in the Girls’ U-20 race category during last year’s IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Kampala.

The 18-year-old will use the Chelf showpiece as a build up to the Commonwealth Games where she will be hunting her first senior title.