KENYA LOSE FAITH: Chepng’etich ruled out of World Cross Country Championships

Faith Chepngetich wins 8km senior women in time of 26:23.4race during the IAAF Permit/KCB National Cross Country Championship at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on 14-02-2014.PHOTO/DENNIS OKEYO

Two-time world cross-country junior champion Faith Chepng’etich Kipyegon will not compete at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Guiyang, China, on March 28.

Chepng’etich, who is also the Africa cross country junior and senior champion, picked up an injury recently while in residential camp at St Mark Teachers College in Kigari, Embu, and was flown to The Netherlands on Thursday for specialised treatment.

Her manager Jos Hermens, who is based at Nijmegen in The Netherlands, is handling her case. It was sad news for Chepng’etich, who often borrows a famous Nigerian proverb ‘a determined hunter is never frightened in the jungle’ to silence her rivals.

It was a setback for Chepng’etich, who beamed with confidence after the national trials: “I really want to ensure that I win the senior gold medal at the world cross country. That’s the only medal I am missing.”

Athletics Kenya President Isaiah Kiplagat said Chepng’etich’s injury is unfortunate for the Kenyan team.

“Faith has got a toe injury, which is really a big blow for the nation. She is an exceptional talent, but I hope she will recover well to represent Kenya in the IAAF World Championships in Beijing (China). We are closely monitoring her progress,” he said.

Kiplagat, however, expressed optimism that the 8km charges can still weather the storm in the southwest Chinese city. “We have strong athletes in the team and hope they can retain the title,” he said.

Kenyan team coach David Leting said, although Chepng’etich’s injury was a blow for them, the entire 8km squad would still produce good results. “The injury seemed to have affected her team mates but all is not lost. They will still do better,” said Leting. Two-time world cross country champion Emily Chebet, who was awarded a wildcard in the team, would have a lifeline to dash for a third bite at the cherry while replacing injured Chepng’etich.

Chepng’etich and Japhet Korir, the two reigning world cross country champions, will miss out in the biennial showpiece.

The 20-year-old Chepng’etich has impeccable credentials from the time she won the junior race at the 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Punta Umbria, the photogenic girl from Keringet, Nakuru County plots a return to Bydgoszcz, Poland – where she finished fourth while running barefoot. Chepng’etich has an insatiable hunger to expand her fledgling collection with IAAF World Youth and World Junior 1,500m titles safely tucked into her trophy cabinet.

The Form Four Student at Winner’s Girls High School in Keringet was among young athletes feted at the centenary celebrations of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) in Barcelona, Spain, in 2012.

She blew away a strong field to win the second Africa Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda, last year and then won the Commonwealth Games 1,500m gold medal before descending on the national cross country title last month.