Seasoned and budding athletes converge in Kericho County this weekend to fight for honours in a Cross-Country event set for this weekend.

According to the Athletics Kenya (AK) Kericho branch v i c e – c h a i r m a n G a b r i e l Kiptanui, athletes will compete in only two races; 10km and mixed relays for both men and ladies categories.

The event will be staged at the Kericho Teachers’ Training College in Kericho town on Saturday. Kiptanui who is also an athletics coach revealed that the event is open for all athletes across the country adding arrangements are complete.

“We are ready for the CrossCountry and we expect a high number of athletes,” Kiptanui said.

Cross country calendar

“Since it is the CrossCountry season many athletes are set to participate in the event in a bid to gauge their performances ahead of the Cross-Country series calendar which has just started”, he added.

Kiptanui said the Kericho event is different from the AK-organised Cross-Country calendar series since not all races are on the card. M e a n w h i l e , L e m o t i t Athletics Training camp coach Paul Kemei revealed that he is sending four athletes for the Saturday Cross-Country event in Kericho town.

O n h i s l i s t a re A n n Naashisho, Mercy Chepkorir, Trizah Cherotich and Sharon Chepngetich who will compete in the 10km race. Good results Kemei is upbeat that the athletes from his camp will perform well during the meet saying they will use the event to assess their preparedness for the upcoming Cross-Country series ahead of World Cross-Country in Australia next year.

“ They have trained well enough and therefore, I expect good results. “

T h i s i s p a r t o f t h e preparations for other events as the Cross-Country series that have just started”, Kemei noted. Kericho based1,500m athlete Faith Chepkoech, 18, who won the10km road race in Kisumu last week, with a personal best time of 34:10 aims to be among the top three in the county cross country games.

“I am hopeful of doing well after the success of Kisumu race,” said Chepkoech.