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Kenya's Karoki to skip African Cross event for World Half marathon

Xinhua, February 11, 2016 Adjust font size:

World Cross Country silver medallist Bedan Karoki confirmed on Wednesday he will not compete at the African Cross Country in Yaounde, Cameroon next month.

Instead, Karoki said he will focus on winning the country a medal at the World Half Marathon in Cardiff, Wales also in March.

"I will not run at the African championships," he said Wednesday in Nairobi. "However, I have every right and inspiration to defend my title at the Kenyan Cross Country Championships on Saturday in Nairobi."

Karoki will wait for the team of selectors to pick him to join with defending World Half Marathon Geoffrey Kamworor for the trip to Cardiff. Kenya is due to name its team on Feb. 22.

Athletics Kenya will used the Nairobi competition on Saturday, an IAAF Permit race, to select the team for the African Cross Country Championships set for March 12 in Yaounde.

"This is the king of challenge," said Kamworor, who promised a front-running assault.

"I hope to edge out my good friend Kamworor again."

Kamworor leads a strong Kenya Police team that has the 2013 World Junior silver medallist Leonard Barsaton, who is also the African Games 10,000m silver medalist. Endit