Away from Police, KDF and Prisons fighting for bragging rights, counties will outdo each other in national cross-country championships-cum-trials.

World champion Hellen Obiri in the KDF cross country at Kahawa Garrison. [Jonah Onyango, Standard

It’s love and rivalry as Kenyan stars prepare for to battle for prized tickets to the 43rd IAAF Aarhus World cross country championships scheduled for next month.

Apart from the bragging rights to the biennial showpiece, mouthwatering battles await at the IAAF permit/ national trials at the Eldoret Sports Club, Eldoret on Saturday.

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), National Police Service and Kenya Prisons headline the star-studded field against upcoming stars from Athletics Kenya regions and the Universities.

The long-standing battle for pride between Elgeyo Marakwet, Uasin Gishu and Nandi over the ‘Home of Champions’ tag will no doubt highlight the one-day show.

Bomet and Kericho counties, from South Rift, are expected to battle for the national cake together with South Nyanza’s Kisii and Nyamira, Nyeri, Nyahururu, Nairobi and Machakos.

“It will battle of titans; you know Nandi is the source champions, Elgeyo Marakwet is home of champions while Eldoret is the city of champions,” said Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago in a promotional video.

“It will be a serious battle of three counties on who will get an opportunity to represent the country at the World cross country in Aarhus, Denmark next month.”

“It will be held in the afternoon for Kenyans to have an opportunity to watch their stars.”

On the discipline forces, World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri will team up will Perin Nenkampi for KDF and will face a polished-cast opponents from National Police and Prisons Service.

Police will bank on World steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Stacy Ndiwa, Agnes Tirop, while Prisons’ sure bet will be two-time Celiphine Chespol, World cross country bronze medallist Lilian Kasai and Africa 10000m silver medalist Alice Aprot.

In men’s encounter, two-time world cross country champion and national winner Geoffrey Kamworor and Leonard Barsoton of Police will be out to stop any aggression from KDF and Prisons.

The duo will have to be at their best to beat World 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto and Edward Zakayo, who have enjoyed best form in cross country circuit. They will be representing Marakwet County alongside Mathew Kimeli.

The 2017 World junior cross country bronze medallist Richard Kimunyan, who competed for Hitachi Transport in Japan, will be another runner to keep eyes on.

In the past six years, Nairobi County has dominated the junior categories and is expected to continue at weekend.

Nairobi junior team will be led by enterprising Enit Yeko, Youth Olympics 3000 silver medallist Mercy Chepkorir and Zena Chemutai, a Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) candidate at Keringet Boarding School.

Chemutai finished fourth in women’s 3000m finals at World Under-20 in Tampere, Finland.  

The duo of Naibei Kiplimo and Victor Chepkwony of Rongai Athletics Club will spearhead men’s team for Nairobi while World u-20 1500m champion George Manangoi will feature in the mixed relays.