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Kenyan runners to skip Africa Cross Country, focusing on Rio Olympics

Xinhua, January 19, 2016 Adjust font size:

World 10,000m champion Vivian Cheruiyot and World Half Marathon Champion Geoffrey Kamworor of Kenya will not compete at the Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon in March.

Cheruiyot, a former World Cross Country champion, said she is only keen to use local cross country competitions to test her endurance and prepare for the track season that starts in April.

Her main focus this season will be to capture the only medal missing in her illustrious cap, the Olympic Gold.

"I have no intentions of competing in Africa Cross Country," Cheruiyot said on Monday from Eldoret. "I am preparing for the Olympics and I believe the best place to test myself will be at the Diamond League meetings in Europe."

This comes just two days after Cheruiyot triumphed at the Kenya Police Cross Country Championships in Nairobi, the biggest event in the country, with most of its winners going on to represent the country in international competitions.

"I came to represent my team (Directorate of Criminal Investigation) and happy for winning with my shape still picking. But I am using it for my track preparation this year," said Cheruiyot.

Cheruiyot, who made her cross-country debut in 1998 in Marrakech, Morocco and won her first global title in 2000 as a junior, however said anyone who Kenya will settle on to compete in the continental games will be yup to the task.

Cheruiyot said the idea of doubling up at the Olympics is still viable and will convince Athletics Kenya (AK) selectors to give him another chance.

She doubled up in London Olympics and won silver in 5,000m and bronze in 10,000. But officials blamed her for missing gold in either events because she was fatigued.

"But there is enough time to recover after running the 10,000m race on the first day of athletics action in Rio. It is a gamble I am ready to take. I am not at the peak level yet now, but I expect to be there soon when I run a few Diamond League races," she added.

The men's race winner Geoffrey Kamworor, also said he will give the Africa cross country a bye as he focused on defending his World Half Marathon crown in Cardiff, Wales in March.

Kamworor said he will also skip the marathon circuit in April because he is keen to run the 10,000m race at the Rio Olympics.

"I will be competing on the track alone after finishing my race in Cardiff. I have a plan on how to win the gold medal from Britain Mo Farah and I will compete sparingly in the build up to Rio Olympics," he said. Endit