GUNS BLAZING IN THIKA: KDF to pick squad for national trials next month

Emmanuel Kipsang wins the men's 10000m finals during the 37th edition of Kenya Defence Forces Athletics Championship at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani stadium on April 27, 2016.[PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO]

Thika barracks comes alive today when Kenya Defence Forces stage their 36th cross-country championships.

The KDF action, which will be used to pick its team for the national cross-country championships next month, will see the soldiers struggling to fashion a strong team that will represent them at the national trials-cum-IAAF Permit meeting at Uhuru Gardens next month.

The showpiece, which has over the years replicated Kenya’s cross-country top cream, except in 2013 when none of KDF athletes made the team to the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships, will see its various barracks parade classy line-ups.

Defending champions Emmanuel Kipsang and Sheila Chepkirui will be back for another shot at their titles.

Kipsang said: “I have trained and I'm ready to face off with my opponents.”

Kahawa’s 2014 world half marathon champion Gladys Cherono and Olympic 5000m silver medalist Hellen Obiri of Laikipia Airbase will headline the stellar cast at the Thika Garrison.

They will take on former Olympic 1,500m champion Nancy Jebet Lagat (Moi Airbase) and Africa bronze medalist Jane Chelagat.

Former Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Mercy Njoroge (Mab) and former world junior 3,000m champion Veronica Nyaruai (Lab) will spice up the line-up.

Perennial world cross-country runner Linet Chepkurui (Mab), Olympic marathon champion Jemima Chelagat Sumgong and world cross-country runner Gladys Chemweno will also offer a mouth-watering battle.

In the men’s front, former Olympic 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist Abel Mutai is expected to raise adrenaline.

But they will walk a tight rope against former Africa 1,500m silver medalist Gideon Gathimba, competing for Laikipia Airbase (LAB), in the battle for bragging rights to the nationals.

Former Africa 800m bronze medallists Jackson Kivuva and defending champion Leonard Oloitiptip do not expect a soft landing as they square it out with a handful of newcomers. World half marathon sensation Kiplimo Kimutai is also in the mix.

Thika-based John Kipkoech Chepkwony, who posted a brilliant 12:45 in 5,000m last season but bowed out in the semi-finals at the World Championships in Moscow, will lead the Engineers Battalion onslaught.

Things might not work well in presence of former Frankfurt marathon winner Mark Kiptoo of Laikipia Airbase when the 39-year-old but evergreen runner sets his sights on cross-country silverware.

World cross-country bronze medallist Vincent Kiprop Chepkok and Peter Mateelong, the younger brother of former Commonwealth Games champion Richard Mateelong, are other star attractions.

A new order was fashioned ahead of the 2013 and 2015 World cross-country after KDF runners, who had dominated the Kenyan cross-country running at the IAAF World Cross-Country Championships –from five-time pair of John Ngugi and Paul Tergat; two-time winner William Sigei to 2010 winner Joseph Ebuya –missed out in the national team.