Athletics: Cherono, Mutai lead in Police cross country

By GILBERT WANDERA

KENYA: Two time  World Junior Cross Country champion  Mercy Cherono will be under pressure to retain her top form  when the Kenya Police Championships kick off today at Ngong Race Course.

Cherono (pictured) has been in top form since winning a silver medal at last year’s World Championships in Moscow over the 5,000m distance and is becoming the athlete to beat on the local front.

She will face stiff opposition from  former Dubai marathon silver medallist Lucy Wangui Kabuu, World Marathon Champion Edna Kiplagat and Berlin Marathon Champion Florence Kiplagat.

Kabuu, who is targeting the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow wants to win today’s 8km senior women’s race to build up her confidence. She will also be out to test her sprint prowess  ahead of next month’s Tokyo marathon.

For the senior men’s 12km distance, the adrenaline rush in the minds of the competitors is endemic. Moses Masai, who is back from a tendon injury, does not  expect a softer landing as he leads the Presidential Escort onslaught.

“I have to test myself. I have been out for sometime and this is perfect stage for me to shake off the rust,” said Masai.

Masai, who is targeting to run at the Boston marathon in April, will come up against stiff challenge from Geoffrey Mutai, the winner of last year’s race, Levi Matebo, Titus Mbishei, Isaiah Kiplangat, Asbel Kiprop, Wilson Kipsang, the World Marathon record holder, and a horde of other upcoming athletes.

The biggest miss in today’s event is triple World Cross country silver medallist Linet Masai. The former World 10,000m champion, who was third in Monday’s 57th Campaccio cross-country race in San Giorgio su Legnano in Milan, will be away till next week.

“Linet is in Milan and is not expected until Monday,” said  elder brother Moses Masai.

However, her absence will  not water down the level of competition for the Police cross country championships, which coach Joshua Chelanga likened to a mini national championships.

“Masai called me and asked for special permission to skip the police championships, because she had contractual obligation to honour the IAAF circuit in Europe.

We agreed that she will compete in the national championships. Other athletes who are injured have also been excused including David Rudisha.

“But the contest will be difficult to all. Top athletes will momentarily forget the titles they have picked across the globe and will pull on jerseys reflecting their true identity with the police force,” said Chelanga.

Police athletes are eyeing to dominate the Kenya team to the Africa Cross Country Championships in Kampala, Uganda in March.     — [email protected]