Sawe hopeful as Wanyonyi, Anyango headline World Cross Country team
26th March 2024
The race is slated for Sunday March 30.
- Emmanuel Wanyonyi will compete in the mixed relay category.
- Three reigning world record holders are in Kenya’s star-studded squad.
- The 2024 World Cross Country Championships will take place at the Park of Friendship in Serbia.
Kenya’s team to the eagerly anticipated 2024 World Athletics
Cross Country Championships is finalizing its preparation ahead of Saturday’s,
March 30 showdown.
The strong squad which has several world record holders will leave the country later this week for Belgrade, Serbia where the one-day event is expected to take place.
Emmaculate Anyango Achol headlines the women’s 10km senior squad alongside the likes of Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and the recently crowned 10K world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngetich.
The reigning 5km world record holder Beatrice Chebet, Margaret Chelimo and Cintia Chepngeno have also made the cut.
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Chebet heads to Belgrade as the defending champion and will be seeking to add another title to her trophy cabinet.
Ngetich, who won the national cross-country title a few weeks ago, has also been tipped by many athletics fans to perform well in the event which will be staged at the famous Park of Friendship.
In the men’s 10km senior category, 2023 world road running championships winner Sabastian Kimaru Sawe will team up with Nicholas Kipkorir, Samwel Chebolei Masai, Gideon Rono, Benson Kiplagat and Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui.
The six runners head to Belgrade seeking to reclaim the title from their Ugandan rivals who have triumphed in the recent two editions.
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Joshua Cheptegei won the title in 2019 before his compatriot Jacob Kiplimo claimed it at the 2023 edition which was held in Bathurst, Australia.
In an exclusive interview with SportPesa News, Sawe remained optimistic of posting a brilliant performance on Saturday.
“My preparations for the World Athletics Cross Country Championships are going on smoothly. I haven’t faced any challenges and everything is going on well. Kenyans should expect something good from me and my colleagues because we will work together in the race,” he commented.
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When asked whether he feels any pressure ahead of the race, Kimaru stated that it is normal for athletes to feel a little bit anxious before such big events.
Meanwhile, one-time Diamond League final winner Emmanuel Wanyonyi has been tasked with the responsibility of helping Kenya clinch the 4x2 km mixed relay title.
The mixed relay team also has 1500m junior world record holder Reynold Cheruiyot, Kyumbe Munguti, Mirriam Cherop, Purity Chepkirui and Virginia Nyambura.
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Kenya’s team to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships
10km senior women category
Beatrice Chebet
Emmaculate Anyango
Agnes Jebet Ngetich
Cintia Chepngeno
Margaret Chelimo
Lilian Kasait
10km senior men category
Sabastian Sawe
Samwel Chebolei
Nicholas Kipkorir
Gideon Rono
Benson Kiplangat
Ishmael Kipkurui
8km U20 junior men category
Shadrack Rono
Charles Rotich
Samuel Kibathi
Johana Erot
Matthew Kipkoech
Gideon Kipngetich
6km U20 junior women category
Diana Chepkemoi
Deborah Chemutai
Diana Cherotich
Mercy Chepkemoi
Sheila Jebet