Kenya Defence Forces cross country championships defending champions Emmanuel Kipsang and Sheila Chepkurui will light up the 37th edition of the military show at the Thika Garrison tomorrow.
KDF will see various units parade their best as they seek to select a strong team to the IAAF Permit/national athletics championships set for Ngong Racecourse on February 18. Kipsang, representing Kenya Navy, will have it rough when he confronts his nemesis Stephen Arita in another of what has become a frequent contest.
Kipsang beat Arita to third place at the East Africa Military games in Uganda in August last year and the Nairobi-based runner will be seeking to dethrone him come Saturday.
Kipsang has been training in his home area of Iten and should expect stiff competition from regulars including former Frankfurt Marathon winner Mark Kiptoo of Laikipia Airbase.
The 2012 Olympics 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Abel Mutai and former Africa 1,500m silver medallist Gideon Gathimba will also be in the hunt for the top six slots and a ticket to represent the forces at the national cross.
Homeboy John Chepkwony, former Africa 800m bronze medalist Jackson Kivuva and former KDF champion Leonard Oloitiptip will spice up the senior men’s race.
Hillary Kiyeng, Geoffrey Kirui, Franklin Ng’elel and Phenus Kipleting, all of whom were in the KDF team to the nationals last year are also expected to protect their credentials in the hunt for a slot to the World Cross set for Uganda on March 26.
Olympic 5000m silver medallist Hellen Obiri headlines the women’s edition as she seeks to thwart Chepkurui’s title defence. Obiri, of Laikipia Airbase, revealed that she will be hunting for the individual title she last won in 2014.
“I want to win the individual title again. I also want to do well and see if I can make a passage into the national team to the World Cross in Kampala,” said Obiri.
She will partner former Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Mercy Njoroge and former world junior 3,000m champion Veronica Nyaruai.
However, the likes of Kahawa’s world half marathon champion Gladys Cherono and former Boston marathon winner Sharon Cherop of Armour Brigade are expected to offer a tough challenge as will former Olympics 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat (Moi Airbase) and Africa bronze medallist Jane Chelagat.
KDF and national athletics head coach Julius Kirwa observed that stiff competition is expected on the day as the runners chase both individual and team titles—for their units.
“We are expecting very tough competition especially in the men’s 10km race which has been reduced from 12km,” said Kirwa.
“We also hope to see younger runners will come and challenge the old guards for this presents a perfect platform for their rise to the top.”
“The relay’s will also be interesting for as I understand, allthe units want their top stars to feature,” he added.