Universities name strong team for national cross country

Athletes in action during 10,000m Men's race at Kenya Universities Cross Country Championships on January 25 in Nakuru. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) has named a strong squad of 12 athletes who have already started training for the National Cross Country Championships scheduled for Eldoret Sports Club on February 8.

They are led by the Kisii University duo of Isaya Matongo and Alvine Kimutai, Amos Kiptanui of Dekut, the University of Eldoret duo of Nicholas Etre and Daniel Waweru and Joseph Mwangi of Kenyatta University as the men's team.

The women's team is made of Dekut duo of Virginia Rubia and Peris Wanja, Kisii University trio of Faith Chebet, Penina Kimeli and Cyline Kemunto and Fortune Laurantah of Embu University.

Matongo and Rubia registered 30 min 38secs and 40min 57secs to win the men and women's 10km respectively.

And they are training under the tutelage of two coaches who include Edward Muema and Maurice Ochieng' at Kenyatta University.

Kenya Universities Sports Federation (KUSF) Secretary General Alice Adalo said her runners are in the right shape while gearing up to conquer some of the best runners in the country.

"We completed our cross country championships last weekend. It was done on merit and we are now ready to compete the rest in the national event, " Adalo told Standard Sports.

Yesterday, she said the runners were pacing up in training to improve on their time at the national championships coming over in less than two weeks.

"Our agenda is for these runners to improve on their time at the national championships. And that's why we intensified our training schedule for our squads to achieve this," Adalo said.