Stellar cast entered for Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour

Aside from 10km world record holder Agnes Ngetich who confirmed her participation last week, a legion of superstars has been lined up for the women’s catfight at the gold level cross country tour.

African 10,000m gold medallist Stacy Ndiwa and Former Frankfurt marathon champion Valary Aiyabei and other stars including Viola Chepngeno, Maureen Jemutai, Visiline Jepkesho and Vicoty Chebet are just but among the huge contingent of athletes eyeing glory on Saturday.

Yesterday, stars invited to the showdown were getting ready, although strong competition from both local and international athletes was anticipated.

Robert Kiprop of Kenya Police, who had finished ninth at the National Cross Country championships is returning to the Lobo Village for the third time, with high hopes.

Kiprop, will be taking on bigwigs among them Ebenyo (if the world road running half marathon silver medallist confirms participation) and other stars among them former 21km record holder Kibiwott Kandie of the Kenya Defence Forces, who placed sixth at the national showpiece recently in Eldoret.

In last year’s edition, Kiprop finished in seventh place, and this year, he hopes the weather at the Lobo Village will be more favourable.

“I know that all athletes who will take part in the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour are well prepared. I had strained at the National Cross Country event but I’m happy that I have recovered and am ready to compete on Saturday,” Kiprop told Standard Sport on the phone.

He had won the Iten leg of the cross country series in November.

“The challenge with this kind of competition is that it is held in hot afternoons. I hope that the weather will be favorable this time. Last year, I dropped from the third place to seventh because the weather wasn’t favourable but I hope to overcome the challenge this time,” said Kiprop.

Alamisi, the world Under-20 5000m champion will be leading the men’s junior cross country charge just days after competing in two indoor meets in France.

Also on the list are John Lomoni, who finished 11th at the National Cross Country earlier in the month, former national champion Samwel Chebolei and Olympic steeplechase bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott.

The Under-20 track star competed at the Meeting Metz on February 8 but faced a shoe problem after a competitor stepped on him during a 3000m contest.

Persistently, he featured in the Meeting Indoor de Lyon and took the second position in 3000m last Saturday.

“I will be taking part in the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour although I had trained so hard for the indoor races. I will be trying my best as I resume training,” Alamisi, who dominated the podium during the Athletics Kenya series, said from his training base in Iten.

He will be up against Kevin Kiprop, who had claimed victory in the Iten Cross Country series in November. He (Alamisi) was second.

Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and world Under-20 800m champion Sarah Moraa will be leading the 2km loop charges.

Several athletes invited for the Saturday showdown had taken the top ten slots in either the AK series, the Chepsaita Cross Country of Discovery Kenya show.

Foreign athletes targeting top places on Saturday include among others Czech Republic’s Martin Zajic, Simon Boch and Nic Ihlow from Germany as well as Tanzanians John Wele and Francis Damasi.