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Kenya' s Lorot eyes Africa Cross gold in Cameroon

Xinhua, March 13, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenyan youngster Andrew Lorot is out to sign off his junior running career with the gold medal when he competes for his nation at Saturday' s 4th CAA Africa Cross Country Championships in Yaounde, Cameroon.

Lorot, 19, won silver the last time out when the 2014 edition was held in Kampala, Uganda and was part of the Kenyan contingent of 24 runners and nine officials who left for Cameroon on Wednesday to defend the overall title they have held since the continental showpiece was launched in 2011.

"This time I have no problem, I' m so strong than when I was going to Uganda. Remember that time we trained in Ngong (Nairobi), but this time, the conditions here in Kigari (Embu County) are different, I won silver last time and now I' m praying God to help me win the gold," Lorot told local media house, Citizen before the team left for West Africa.

"I have prepared well, and my team mates are well prepared, I have seen the team' s strength and I can assure you we are going to work as a team in order to defend the title that we took in Uganda," the runner who was beaten to silver by countryman Moses Mukono in Kampala affirmed.

He has the additional inspiration of lining up against his step-brother, Nixon Kiplagat, who won the men junior 8km race just ahead of him in a family 1-2 at the IAAF Permit/AK National Cross Country Championships in Nairobi.

"The big challenge was that part of the course was water-logged," added Lorot, the African junior cross-country silver medallist told IAAF after the race.

"I knew I could win but I let him do it today because he is my brother. We share the same father but different mothers. I will train thoroughly for Yaounde to have the victory to myself."

Isaac Kipsang, Willy Kwemoi, Ronald Kiprotich, Alfred Ngeno and Anthony Kiptoo, complete the 8 km junior men' s team that is hoping to score the perfect 10 score by completing a 1-2-3-4 finish. Eritrea' s Afewerki Berhane nicked in for the individual bronze in Kampala. Endit