Chebet leads juniors in national championship

Sandra Felis Chebet on her way to win 6km junior women race during the IAAF Permit/National cross country championship at Nairobi's Uhuru Gardens on Feb 13, 2016. [PHOTO:DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD]

World Youth 1,500m Champion Sandra Chebet will lead juniors in the six-kilometre race at the IAAF Permit meeting cum national cross country championships at Uhuru Gardens on Saturday.

World Youth 3,000m silver medallist Davis Kiplang’at will be the flag bearer in the men’s 8km race, competing against fellow South Rift team mates and athletes from Nairobi, South Nyanza, North and Central Rift regions.

Chebet, who trains in Londiani in Kericho County alongside her sister Emily Chebet, the world youth silver medalist, will anchor the women’s junior race contest against a new crop of youngsters.

Chebet set her season on course as she won Discovery Kenya cross country meeting at Eldoret Sports Club a fortnight ago.
She will take on Felicent Cheptoek, fellow team mate from Nairobi region, against little-known Jebet Ng’etich, Ann Nyagothie, Rosemary Mumo, Debora Samum, Gloria Kite, Irene Kimais and Vivian Jepkurui of Central Rift region.

They will fight it out with Sheila Chelang’at, Joyline Cherotich, Immaculate Chepkirui, Betty Chepkemoi, Miriam Cherop and Janeth Chepkoech of South Rift region –often billed as the cradle of junior women stars.

Chebet said at the Discovery Kenya cross country contest: “I started my training early enough and I do expect to make the team to the World Cross Country Championships (set for Kampala, Uganda, on March 26). I know the competition will be tough but I will give it my best.”

Japhet Kemei, who runs an athletics training camp in Silibwet in Kericho, said they would give the elite field a run for their money.

“We are coming with a strong team of more than 10 athletes from South Rift. We hope to put our preparations for the national trials on course,” said Kemei.

In the men’s front, Davis Kiplang’at will tackle world youth 3,000m champion Richard Kimunyan, Josphat Kipchirchir, Antony Saita, Collins Kemboi, Clephas Kandie and Boniface Kiptarus.

South Rift stars in Edwin Kiplang’at Ronald Kirui, Vincent Kipkorir, Amos Kirui and Dominic Lang’at and Gideon Kipng’etich will also be in contention.

Kenya and Ethiopia are the most successful countries in the world championships’ history, having won 122 of the 161 available team titles in World Cross-Country Championships.

The two nations have met 123 times where both have fielded full teams, with Kenya beating Ethiopia 80-42 and the showpiece in Younde promises another mouthwatering clash.