It is not all rosy for Kenyan senior teams at the 43rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships that run in Aarhus, Denmark, tomorrow.

As the 582 elite athletes from 67 countries and regions line up on the course near Moesgaard Museum, the contest will no doubt reduce into a battle between Kenya and eternal rivals Ethiopia and Uganda.

Geoffrey Kamworor, who guns for a third win at the global showpiece, is keen to post his sixth straight title in six years and add to his two world cross country titles and three world half marathon crowns.

He must be at his best to counter 2016 world under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion Amos Kirui, the national trials winner.

World under-20 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto and Olympic silver medalist Paul Tanui are hungry for victory.

Former world under-20 10,000m champion Rodgers Kwemoi, Richard Kimunyang and Evans Keitany are also itching for glory.

“The team is strong. The training and preparation were great, the level of discipline in the camp was good and I can say we are going to retain the titles. We are not underrating our opponents,” team manager Benjamin Njoga, the Deputy Commissioner General Kenya Prisons.

It remains to be seen if Kenyans will retain the women’s 10km crown, having ruled the shows since 2009 in Amman, Jordan, when Florence Kiplagat ended then Kenya’s 15-year gold drought. Kenya boasts of top two individual spots in four of the past six editions.

World 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, world 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, world cross country bronze medallist Lilian Kasait, Beatrice Mutai, Debora Samum and Eva Cherono will respond when called upon tomorrow afternoon.

Kenya won the mixed relays title at the previous championship in Kampala in 2017 and Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto and world champion Elijah Manangoi will lead the squad. They include Winfred Mbithe and Jarinter Mawia.

The team are likely to face a stiff challenge from Morocco, who have presented a star-studded field that features world 3,000m steeplechase silver medallist Soufiane El Bakkali.

El Bakkali leads Abdelaati Iguider, an experienced 1,500m runner and Rababe Arafi, a finalist at the 2017 Worlds and Rio Olympics.

“I’m excited to return to world cross country championships having competed in 2013 in junior race where I finished fifth. With Manangoi, Mbithe and Mawia, we will certainly retain the mixed relays title,” said Conseslus. 

Ethiopian mixed relays squad comprises new names.