Stars skip Africa X-country
Two-time World Cross Country champion Geoffrey Kamworor is one of the elite athletes who have opted out of the Africa Cross-Country Championships to be held on April 8 in Lome, Togo.
Athletics Kenya (AK) senior vice-president Paul Mutwii named a relatively inexperienced and new team of 40 after an eventful National Championship held at Ngong Racecourse on Saturday.
The Kenyan contingent has increased from the previous editions owing to the introduction of the two new events, 5km and 6km races for girls and boys under the age of 18 years.
In a rather seamless event, controversy marred the men’s senior race with Kamworor, the reigning world bronze medallist the victim.
Full command
The New York Marathon winner, who had taken full command of the race, was allegedly misdirected by a route marshal in the last 300m to eventually surrender his almost 70m lead in a race that was won by Kibiwott Kandie of Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in 29:57.7.
Kamworor was second in 30:05.5 with team-mate at Kaptagat Camp Nicholas Kimeli, representing Central Rift, settling for an impressive third in a time of 30:12.0. Alfred Barkach, Emmi Bett and Edwin Kiplagat made the senior team
“It took me a while to figure out what had happened. The official failed to open the tape for me in the final bend.
After the tape was opened for Kandie is when the officials noticed a mistake had been done, from there it was a long way back,” said a dejected Kamworor.
He, however, clarified that the controversy was not the reason behind skipping the continental event.
“My target is to defend my World Half Marathon title on March 29 in Gydnia, Poland, “ said Kamworor, who should be the first name on the list when AK names the World Half Marathon team on Thursday.
Women national winner Sheila Chelangat of National Police Service also pulled out of the Togo event in favour of a road race in Spain in April.
“Had it not been for the prior commitments, I would have loved to represent my country in Togo.
Besides the race, I will now embark on my preparations for Olympics since it is my major focus this year,” said Chelangat, who won Saturday’s race comfortably in time of 34:34.9 ahead of Stacy Ndiwa and KDF’s Joyceline Chepkemoi who clocked 34:40.4 and 34:48.8 respectively. Emmaculate Anyango, Beatrice Chebet and Monicah Chirchir also made the senior team.
The withdrawal of Kamworor was blessing for Edwin Kosgei, who ranked seventh in the race, as he was included in the team.
World 5,000m silver medallist Margaret Chelimo, who also finished seventh in the women’s race, replaced Chelangat.
Meanwhile, world 3,000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech has Abel Kipsang, Vivian Cheruto and Gilbert Kwemoi as team-mates in the mixed relay race.
Mutwii says the athletes should put in mind that Kenya holds both the men’s and women’s senior titles from the 2018 championships held in Chlef, Algeria and work to retain then.
