Big field for Iten cross country meeting today

12km cross country senior men championship at Jamhuri Grounds on 11-01-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

The second Athletics Kenya cross-country meeting gets underway at Iten today.

The showpiece, which returns to the athletics-mad Iten since 2011, will see most athletes shake off their rust after a long holiday in preparation for the national cross-country championships slated for February 1 at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.

One man, however, will be standing out from the group as he lines up against athletes nearly half his age, not for exhibition purpose but for serious competition.

At 38, Mark Kiptoo looks too strong to ditch cross-country running even after winning the Frankfurt Marathon two weeks ago.

Kiptoo first donned a pair of running spikes 10 years ago, but soon after his first race, he was posted to Burundi on a peace-keeping mission as part of the then Kenya Air Force platoon. Running had to take a back seat.

Kiptoo then returned home in 2006, and joined the Armed Forces training team and quickly began to show promise. In 2007, he completed his first full season as an athlete, he finished third at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships, second in the 5000m at the Kenyan Championships, and took gold and silver at the World Military Games.

Standing on the podium at those events made Kiptoo realise his potential.

"I could see I was improving step by step and I told myself if I continued in the same vein, I will reach my goal," said Kiptoo.

And today he has prove that victory in the German city was no fluke as he prepares to make the national and secure a ticket to the World Cross-Country Championships set for Giuyang, China, on March 28.

"I want to make the team and need to start preparations in advance," he said.

The Kenya Defence Forces soldier will take on fellow colleagues among them Kiplimo Kimutai, the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon runner.

More than 3,000 athletes will be on parade as they seek to stamp their authority and produce thrills and spills as they tackle the energy sapping Iten Sports grounds this morning.

Pius Kiplagat, the AK Elgeyo Marakwet AK County chairman, said preparations were complete.

"This being the town of all athletes in the world, the event has gained international standards. Apart from our many local athletes here, we have those from other countries like New Zealand, Uganda, USA among others who normally train here," said Kiplagat.

Alex Tolgos, Elgeyo Marakwet Governor, will preside over the race together with embattled AK President Isaiah Kiplagat.