Kenya against Farah at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Wales

Another showdown is on today between Britain’s Mo Farah and Kenyans at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Cardiff, Wales.

Kenya will be making its 21st stab at the event without signs of fatigue since Moses Tanui won it in 1995 and it promises a cocktail of hopes and intrigue, as it always does.

The clash between world 10,000m silver medallist Geoffrey Kamworor and Britain’s four-time world champion Mo Farah will no doubt set adrenaline pulse-racing here. Kamworor, 23, who started running while a Standard Six pupil at Chepsamo Primary School in Keiyo South, is keen to offer the Briton a mouth-watering battle as he seeks to defend his title.

“I have trained well. And I hope we are ready for the opposition and we don’t underrate anyone. We will embrace team work as we fight to retain our title,” said Kamworor.

Kamworor seems to follow American actor Michael Cadena’s counsel: “Take the bull by the horns until you have him screaming for mercy.”

Dutchman Jos Hermens, who manages Kamworor, said: “We pray that the rainy conditions experienced now shall continue on Saturday (today).

Kamworor is a good cross country runner and does well under such conditions.”

Kamworor, who is placed 10th in the 21km all-time lists with a personal best of 58:54, will team up with world cross country silver medallist Bedan Karoki, New York Marathon winner Stanley Biwott, Edwin Kiptoo and Jonathan Maiyo.

Karoki and Biwott, who has a personal best time of 58.56, were also the second and third fastest half marathon runners in the world last year.

The Cardiff is expected to be Kenya’s other happy tour to United Kingdom after staging a good show at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Birmingham in 2009, where Mary Keitany, the 2014-2015 World Marathon Majors jackpot winner, chalked up victory.

The team will be seeking to retain the title Kenya won in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2014, where they swept top-five spots in women’s race to reclaim individual and team gold medals.

Mary Wacera, the silver medalist in Copenhagen, will lead the women team that has Cynthia Limo, Peris Jepchirchir, Gladys Chesir and Paskalia Kipkoech.